Algona Bread - stories about eating

2010-02-04T10:19:00.002-06:00

Result of Jesus making the mute speak, the lame walk, the blind see - glory! Matt 15:30-31

The Life of God in the Soul of Man - Review

2009-12-31T14:52:00.006-06:00

365: day 265
Originally uploaded by Nick in exsilio.

The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal (1650-1678, bio)

What can someone who barely lived to see his 28th birthday in 1678 have to say? Enough that George Whitefield said he never really understood what true religion was till he had digested Scougal's treatise (from ccef.org).

Found off of a friend's recommended book list, I loved this book. Loved it. I was reading it with other people, and while they didn't like it, I kept enjoying it more and more.

The language is old and the sentences are long, but there is great reward in sorting through this treasure.

In describing the divine life:

It is a real participation of his nature, it is a beam of the eternal light, a drop of that infinite ocean of goodness; and they who are endowed with it may be said to have “God dwelling in their souls, and Christ formed within them.”

The Rise of Christianity - review

2009-12-31T14:21:00.007-06:00

The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark is a sociologist's look at why Christianity grew in the few centuries following the death and resurrection of Christ.

Stark addresses how Christianity advanced by looking at several factors: class distinction, the mission to the Jews, epidemics, social networks, elevation of the status of women, urban outreach, ancient urban structure and culture, martyrs, and virtues held by the believers.

On the one hand, this is an aggravating book for me. Stark is not looking at the growth of the church as a work of the Sovereign Lord. He sees the growth of the church in purely horizontal (read: human relationships) terms.

On the other hand, this is a profound book. The contrast in the lives, actions, and community of the believers to the pagan culture they lived in was incredible. The Christians stayed during the plagues, they valued women, they had tight community that was deep and thick. Believers gladly went to their deaths in the face of persecution.

Stark's bibliography is long and he frequently references primary sources. His presentation is rather powerful even if there are portions that I disagree with. Given some caveats, this was a great and encouraging read.

The Jesus Storybook Bible - review

2009-12-25T15:41:00.006-06:00

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a children's Bible. But it is more than that. Not only retells certain portions, but it points us to where these portions are heading. It is great book for anyone (any age!) who wants to understand the Bible and how it points to Christ. I can't read certain parts without getting choked up. I thought it was amazing.

For example, take the ending of the story of Abraham after he was about to sacrifice Isaac (p 69):

"One day Someone will be born into your family," God promised them. "And he will bring happiness to the world."

God was getting ready to give the whole world a wonderful present. It would be God's way to tell his people, "I love you."

Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn't struggle or run away.

Who was he? God's Son, his only Son - the Son he loved.

The Lamb of God.

History Makers - review

2009-12-15T15:58:00.001-06:00

St Mary's at Night
Originally uploaded by Lochinvar1.

History Makers, edited by Paul Hostetler and Grazyna Kozusznik (translated from Polish), is compilation of essays about church planting in Poland. Each of the articles is an autobiographical sketch of the church planter and the church plant.

These accounts seem to be quite honest and humble, yet expecting God to do great things. Many of the ministries have very small churches, have gone through difficult transitions, but have a deep love for Christ and His people.

I got this book from a missionary to Poland and was very intrigued. Carrie and I have both done church planting work in Poland so I was eager to see if I knew anyone. And I did, Piotr Zaremba from Poznan. I took this book with me when I taught at Seaside Missionary Training Center in Odessa and two of the Polish students were related to church planters in the book.

If you can find it, it is worth obtaining. It is real - failures and successes both are given in the book. It can stir the heart.

Not Under Bondage: Biblical Divorce for Abuse. Adultery & Desertion - review

2009-12-14T07:26:00.002-06:00

Not Under Bondage: Biblical Divorce for Abuse. Adultery & Desertion by Barbara Roberts is a defense of biblical divorce for marital abuse, immorality, and abandonment. For full-disclosure, Roberts states upfront that she has been the victim of abuse and eventually divorced.

Roberts is quite clear that she is arguing for a distinction between "disciplinary divorce" - divorce because of abuse, adultery, and desertion which allows for the offended party to biblically remarry, and "treacherous divorce" - unbiblical divorce. She defines abuse, what the church and people involved should do in a situation of marital abuse, and provides a biblically-based defense of abuse as a sanctioned reason by Paul. Roberts spends most of the book on the issue of abuse since adultery and desertion have been well-served other places.

Most of her case centers around 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul allows a Christian to let an unbelieving spouse leave. Roberts argues that an abuser has become like an unbeliever and the believer can recognize that the offending spouse has already left. While Roberts gives a good argument and opened my eyes on a few passages, I feel her argument from 1 Corinthians 7 is wanting.

Roberts is quite thorough in her argumentation, similar in depth as to what one might find in Feinberg and Feinberg. She analyzes most of the important passages and gives some detailed commentary for them. Aesthetically, the print in this book is small and goes to the margins, so the text is a bit irritating to look at. That being said, this is a good volume to have if you'd like some interaction on what you think about biblical divorce and remarriage.

Teaching Cross-Culturally - review

2009-12-12T07:43:00.002-06:00

Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Learning and Teaching by Sherwood Lingenfelter and Judith Lingenfelter is to help the western-trained Christian educator to work well in a non-western or multicultural educational setting.

The authors take a look at many things a westerner might assume when teaching. This is then contrasted with learning styles, cultural expectations, and how the various roles in the teaching process are understood.

As I first read this book it initially seemed like blah, blah, blah. But it really is a gem. Great insight for teaching, whether in a western setting or not.

Deep Church - review

2009-12-12T07:39:00.009-06:00

Deep Church by Jim Belcher

Well.

Everyone seems to love Belcher's clarity on the issue of emerging/Emergent/traditional churches. His endorsement list is rather unbelievable. Most that are in the know regarding emerging church issues, feel that Belcher has really pegged the history and the current situation. The question is does his third way, his "Deep Church," provide common ground?

Sheepishly, I don't feel like I can give a good answer.

As an audio book, I have mixed feelings. It was great in the parts where Belcher was recounting some of the backdrop for some of the current emerging church debates. It is not good (as an audio book) where you need to stop and chew on something. Many good things have been said about this book and I remember enjoying it, but I can't hardly tell you what some of the author's thoughts are on a way forward for a church. With the audio book, I had a bit of trouble getting a larger sense of where we were going.

Buy the book to really chew on Belcher's third way, unless you just want a good listen on the dynamics of emerging, Emergent, contemporary, or confessional churches and related debates.

Unless you are a better listener than me. If given truth serum, my wife might put a good 98% of the human population in that category. So there you are.

For some good reviews of the book, try here (positive) and here (negative)

Have a Little Faith - review

2009-12-11T07:26:00.016-06:00

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom is about the lives of three individuals:

*Albert Lewis, a rabbi who was dying and asked the prodigal congregant Mitch to do his eulogy.

*Henry Covington, an ex-con, former drug-addict/dealer that came to Christ and began preaching and addressing social needs in Detroit.

*Mitch Albom, a journalist that is going through the struggles of performing this eulogy and reckoning his own spiritual life. He tells the story of these two men.

Mitch is a good writer, very easy and entertaining to read. And this is a feel-good book. I got this book free for doing a review in return. While I have been out of country and not feeling well, I was hesitant as to what to say about this book. There is a tension that this book does not resolve concerning faith - what about truth? There is a sense of "we are all OK" but it isn't brought to full blossom. In fact I imagine that Mitch might be the only character (if any) pushing for that position. It seems that the important thing is to believe, without much regard as to it's object.

The stories of these two people (and Mitch) are superbly told. It is heart-warming, but incomplete as a treatise on faith. I'd probably enjoy Tuesdays With Maurie.

The Pomodoro Technique - review

2009-11-15T22:57:00.001-06:00

The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo is an exercise to help one focus in their work. It is rather simple, you set a timer for 25 minutes and work without interruption according to your sheet, take a 5 minute break, and repeat three more times, when you take a longer break. There is more to it, but not much.

It has helped me to stay focused and I think it is worth a read. Don't buy the book. Just get the pdf. It is super helpful.

Seeing with New Eyes - review

2009-11-11T22:51:00.002-06:00

Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison guides us through counseling and the human condition through the lens of Scripture. This book "focuses on the conceptual. It unfolds Scripture's view of people and problems. It reinterprets common counseling phenomena through God's eyes, as revealed in Scripture." (p 7)

The book is divided into two parts: (1) Scripture opens blind eyes and (2) Reinterpreting life. Part 1 centers around opening various passages of Scripture to issues we face in life - Ephesians, Psalm 131, Psalm 10, and Luke 12:22-34. Part 2 looks at issues such as how to ask good questions, addressing desires, the "contraconditional" love of God, God as our Father, and weaknesses of following our feelings.

Powlison is a good writer and his robust explanations of how God's Word unfolds in a person's life has been very helpful for me. A recommended volume for anyone that either has a need for God's gracious Word or knows someone who does.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Fun books) - review

2009-11-09T22:01:00.006-06:00

Sometimes I 'review' fun reading just because I think that some would benefit from it. I don't know what sort of person benefits from Grimm's Fairy Tales, but if you want to step into bizzaro world, here is the door.

One of the best ways to die? Get stones sown into your belly and then get thrown into the river. A girl marrying a giant rabbit? Not a problem. There are a couple of people put into iron caskets with nails and rolled down the hill. And there's the guy that takes his leg off because he runs too fast with both legs.

It is insane. It is classic literature.

Growth Groups - review

2009-09-28T05:00:00.003-05:00

Growth Groups by Colin Marshall (Mathhias Media) outlines important aspects of leading a small group.

Marshall uses a very broad purpose statement for small groups (receive Christ as Lord, live with Christ as Lord, p 12) and then outlines the dynamics of this group. The book gives some excellent discussion on the practical parts of a Growth Group but doesn't spend as much time providing a comprehensive vision for these groups in the context of the broader church.

This is a simple and easy to use book. There is a training program at the end so that you can begin training your new leaders. Excellent for what it does.

In a Sunburned Country - review

2009-09-28T05:00:00.002-05:00

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson is humorous travelogue on Bryson's trip throughout Australia.

Bryson journeys to the corners of Australia detailing the various sights, local history, and his own humorous encounters. He is quite entertaining (a bit crude at times), but much of the book is about Bryson himself on this journey. As an author, he moves you along quite nicely.

A snippet from a conversation between Bryson and a park ranger about the disappearance and presummed drowning of former Prime Minister Harold Holt (they were at the beach where he was swept to sea):

But as I (Bryson) was leaving he called to me with an afterthought. "They built a memorial to him in Melbourne," he said. "Know what it was?"

I indicated that I had no idea.

He grinned very slightly. "A municipal swimming pool."

"Seriously?"

His grin broadened, the nod was sincere.

"This is a terrific country," I said.

"Yeah," he agreed happily. "It is, you know." (p 143)

Life as a Vapor - review

2009-09-26T16:00:00.003-05:00

Life as a Vapor by John Piper is a series of 31 meditations about our life in light of eternity. Piper tells us clearly the purpose of this book: "my prayer is that these meditations on the Word of God will link you with eternal joy, and make the vapor of your life an everlasting aroma of praise to the glory of Christ." (p 12)

Excellent stuff here folks! In doing many of these together as a family, I greatly appreciated the prayer at the end of each meditation - succinct, meaningful, passionate. Here is one to get a taste:

"Lord, You have been our dwelling

place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting You are God."

But we are like grass:

we flourish for a moment and then wither.

We are like a vapor:

we appear from the mouth,

and two seconds later we are gone.

Give us a mind to know the past,

lest we waste our fleeting lives

repeating its mistakes.

In Jesus' never-changing name,

Amen. (p 97)

groundswell - review

2009-09-25T23:55:00.003-05:00

groundswell - winning in a world transformed by social technologies by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff answers three questions: (1) what is groundswell, (2) what to do about it, and (3) how you can use it to succeed in your company.

So, what is groundswell?

Ans.: a social trend in which people use technologies to get the things they need from each other, rather than from traditional institutions like corporations. (p 9)

Ex.: Brian Finkelstein filmed a Comcast technician who fell asleep on his couch in 2006, waiting on hold for help from the Comcast home office to fix an Internet problem. Now this video is the top result when searching "Comcast" on YouTube. (p 7)

Some of the technologies that create groundswell are blogs, social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace), wikis/open source, forums & ratings, and rss. The authors then go through describing the impact they have on the groundswell. They then detail how this can be used to a company's advantage.

The examples are excellent (Digg and the HD-DVD key, P&G's beinggirl.com, Loblaw and the BBQ cap), but it tended to get a bit dry by the end (a Social Technographics Profile isn't the most interesting thing in the world). Clearly pointed for business people and not just theoretcial ponderings about future of technology. This book either educates those who are newer to some of this tech or it helps bring focus to some of what we already experience. This is a valuable resource for those that interact with the outside world.

The Holman Illustrated Study Bible - review

2009-09-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

The Holman Illustrated Study Bible combines the Holman Christian Standard with maps from the Holman Bible Atlas and lots of photos.

Each book begins with an overview including major themes, purpose, Christ, canonical setting, and literary features. Notes, aside from the few text critical footnotes, are topical and sporadic but the photos and vivid maps are quite helpful. There is an appendix that has various charts (millennial positions, canonical lists, measurements) and an abridged concordance.

What really hinders this study bible are aesthetics. The deep yellow for the footnotes is very distracting and the colors for the charts can be a bit grating. The first few pages include space to record births, deaths, etc. To me, those kinds of pages are curious enough, but there is a fake Hebrew type writing underneath each heading.

Notice how they make the Hebrew letters look like the English equivalents above. There is a mutilated Qof and several upside down Shins, to note a few of the errors. This is a perplexing choice - you wouldn't appreciate the line underneath unless you realized that they are Hebrew letters. But, if you knew they were Hebrew letters, you would know that Hebrew is read right to left, Hebrew letters (or words) don't simply correspond one to one with the English phrase above, and that many of the letters are adjusted, flipped, and twisted. If you didn't realize the silliness immediately, you'd figure it out with the helpful Hebrew alphabet acrostics printed with Psalm 119 and Lamentations.

If you don't mind a few visual quirks, this isn't a bad study bible. Unfortunately, there isn't much in the way of content that separates this from better study bibles. My recommendation is the ESV Study Bible - great content and helps.

Silmarillion - review

2009-09-17T23:43:00.001-05:00

Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien fills in the history of the events before The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

This was for pure fun. I liked it, but I can't imagine many that would - lots of names and relationships to keep straight. If you don't like pouring over a map, this is not the book for you. If you didn't like LOTR, then this really isn't the book for you. You might even like maps and LOTR but still not get into Silmarillion.

However, I did. Thanks Carrie!

The Shack - review

2009-09-16T23:45:00.002-05:00

The Shack by William Young is a fictional story about Mack: his loss and his subsequent encounter with God.

Well I read it. If you want a detailed review, you can look here or here or even here (with a few disagreements). If you'd really like a deeper look, I have a friend that has corresponded with author about his concerns with the book. Yes it is fiction, but the author is trying to say something true about God. That's why you have people getting all up in arms about this book.

Actually, I didn't really enjoy it, but it is so popular that I felt I should read it. The hype didn't help. The event that precipitated Mack's journey to the 'shack' was so awful and random that it lost a real connection with me. Parts struck me as hokey. Yes, some things were good, but certain notions were just wrong. Others have said this in a much more eloquent and convincing manner.

If you'd like to read fiction, you could do better. If you'd like to read about God, you could do quite a bit better. For some better books on evil, God, and our response, I'd recommend How Long O Lord? and Where is God? (a true account).

Don't Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees - review

2009-09-15T23:59:00.001-05:00

Don't Let the Goats Eat the Loquat Trees by Thomas Hale is about a missionary family's journey to Nepal.

Thomas and Cynthia Hale felt the call to serve in Nepal as medical missionaries from 1970 to 1980. This book tells of how God provided for their trip, some of the unique challenges that stood before them, successes, failures, and sitting on long bus rides.

This is a very enjoyable book. It isn't a hagiography, but an honest take on their time (with all of the messy details) while serving in the missionary hospital. It was very real and motivating. Serving the Lord is humbling, it shatters our expectations, and it is the most glorious we could ever be blessed to do!

Hale writes in a readable manner - this is no chore to get through. Personal stories aside, the observations about Nepalese culture make this book worth picking up. Reading this is time well spent.

The Pursuit of Holiness - review

2009-07-31T22:43:00.002-05:00

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges is a book about the holiness of our Lord and the holiness in the life of the believer. Originally written in 1978, this book has not lost any luster.

Bridge's classic addresses the issues surrounding holiness: holiness of the Lord, understanding how holiness works in us, obedience, faith, joy, etc. Straightforward and lucid, Pursuit of Holiness guides the reader through the text of Scripture with great impact.

Some excerpts:

Acknowledging His holiness is one of the ways we are to praise God. (p 24)

Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks and willing as God wills. (p 47, quoting Scottish theologian John Brown)

We have to learn that we are dependent upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to attain any degree of holiness. Then, as we look to Him, we will see Him working in us - revealing our sin, creating a desire for holiness, and giving us the strength to respond to Him in obedience. (p 76)

Joy not only results from a holy life, but there is also a sense in which joy helps produce a holy life. ... And as [the Christian] hopes in Christ, he begins to have joy. ... He then finds that the joy of a holy walk is infinitely more satisfying than the fleeting pleasures of sin. (p 151)

Definitely recommended.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - review

2009-07-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell investigates how some people can make highly accurate split decisions. And how our intuition can really let us down.

This book really gets you thinking. There has been some critique about Gladwell's analysis of what forms our thinking, how he sees this phenomena working, or that he just pulled together various articles and try to make a book out them. These accusations may be true, but this was a FUN book to read!

Gladwell looks at so many things: predicting divorce, picking out a fake sculpture, Tom Hanks, racial bias, Marines in Vietnam, Coke vs. Pepsi. The concept behind the show Lie To Me is addressed. You learn why orchestra auditions are done with a screen separating judges and applicant. The list goes on - awesome stuff!

Truth. - review

2009-07-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

Truth. by Dave Bordon has 100 contrasting statements between what popular culture says and what Scripture says. Written in a style that allows someone to easily read a page at a time, the book is meant to highlight some of the messages we get bombarded with and confront them with the truth.

While I was a bit skeptical at first, I actually enjoyed this book. Yes, there is a bit of Christian sloganeering and there are few chapters that I would have said a bit differently. Arguments and analysis are not that in-depth. But the intent is to confront some of what is been told to us with Scripture. Truth. does that in an accessible, entry-level fashion.

A word of warning: this book is meant to be read in parts. There isn't any real cohesion between the sayings, so it is good for people that really don't like to read more than just a little bit at a time.

The Kite Runner - review

2009-07-25T05:00:00.001-05:00

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel about the life and redemption of Amir, a kid growing up in and then returning to Afghanistan.

In short, I enjoyed learning about Afghan culture and history, but the story was disappointing.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

SUMMARY OF THE STORY: This is a novel about a rich(er) kid, Amir, that grew up in Kabul. They have servants in the house and the servant boy, Hassan, is very fond of Amir, but he is a Hazara, an unpopular minority. One day Hassan gets a special kite for Amir, but a local bully, Assef, rapes him because he is Hazara and Amir, who sees it happen, does nothing. Amir, ashamed of his cowardice, drives out Hassan and his father out of his house and into a very desperate life.

Amir and his father eventually have to flee the country and they go to America. A relative of Amir, Rahim, asks him to come back to Afghanistan (during the Taliban era) and retrieve Hassan's son, Sohrab, from an orphanage. Amir finds Sohrab in the clutches of the same man, Assef, that raped Hassan - a druggie, a pedophile, and an executioner for the Taliban. Amir gets beat up by Assef, only to be saved by Sohrab before he dies. Though free from Assef, the Taliban, and Afghanistan, Sohrab never really recovers psychologically, even though he winds up getting adopted by Amir and living in the US.

The positives of the book: The author tells a very compelling tale. It grips at your heart. You feel anger and despair. You gain some insight into a culture that you might ever know about.

What did I not like about this book? This is essentially a story of the redemption of Amir for his cowardice when Hassan needed help. It seems that since Amir almost dies at the hands of Assef and he (reluctantly) adopts Sohrab, all is well. Everyone else dies before the truth of the whole situation comes out. It seems so trite; the events, though perfectly laid out, do not yield redemption for Amir. How does Amir's pummeling make everything better? How does Amir caring for a child that (seemingly) could have had a happy life with his real dad make the first act go away? It doesn't.

And having the villain as a doped-up, Nazi-loving, pedophile with John Lennon sunglasses who also happens to be a part of the Taliban(!) is a real stretch - even in this novel. I'm no friend of the Taliban, but that sort of portrayal seems to run contrary to Taliban values (like eradicating opium production, hating Western culture, enforcing sexual mores - you get the picture), which they conveniently disregard in the case of Assef.

The book is a page turner, no doubt about it. If you think that a certain amount of personal suffering can atone for very evil deeds, then you'll enjoy the flow of this novel. If not, you can learn a bit about kite fighting (which actually sounds kinda cool).

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God - review

2009-07-24T22:29:00.004-05:00

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan is an audio book that talks about what it means to be a follower of Christ.

First, the book is deeply challenging. Looking through the lens of Scripture, Chan confronts mediocrity in the church without seeming whiny. Convicting. Inspiring. One of the better books I have 'read' this year.

Secondly, this is not a great audio book. For one, Chan reads it and his reading seems a bit dispassionate. Also, this is a book you want to go back to. He makes these annoying comments about putting down the book (to stop listening) and check out a particular video online or fall on your knees and I'm like, "Dude, I'm driving as I listen to you."

So buy the book. It was worth listening to, but I'll still need to go back over my own copy. (And set aside time to check out video, reflect, and seek my God.)

Who Is Jesus? - review

2009-07-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

Who Is Jesus? by N.T. Wright evaluates three contemporary (1994) claims of who Jesus really is. The unfortunate (but deserving) victims of Wright's penetrating analysis are Barbara Thiering, A.N. Wilson, and John Sprong.

Barbara Thiering claims that Jesus was a figure in the community that wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Gospels are code (she claims pesher) for the happenings within that community. According to Thiering, Jesus is drugged on the cross in a trial and awakens in a cave. He eventually marries Mary Magdalene, has a daughter and two sons, divorces her, and marries again. Easy breezy for Wright to dismantle this mess.

A.N. Wilson claims that Jesus, as we know him, is mythical story. According to Wilson, Jesus actually died, but the people thought that James (Jesus' brother) was actually Jesus resurrected. Wilson's problems in his assessment center around two issues: (1) even though he is a good writer, he isn't that great with facts and using scholarship and (2) he has admittedly given up his Christian faith and (surprise, surprise) Jesus wouldn't have approved of the Christian faith either, all the while calling the NT writers biased. Wright shows his ability as a historian and Wilson readily goes down as well.

John Sprong attacks the birth of Jesus and calls the Gospels fanciful stories which aren't meant to be taken literally (calling them Midrash). Wright deals with Sprong skillfully, but this is a more intricate argument.

Wright is very easy to read; for a book reassessing the historical Jesus, it was a page-turner. There are a couple of comments Wright makes that get under my skin. While N.T. Wright takes positions that I do not hold, they are outside of this volume; this book is a keeper.

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism - review

2009-07-10T04:45:00.001-05:00

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever is a short volume on our individual responsibly to see the Gospel spread. The core of the book is found in these seven chapters:

1. Why Don't We Evangelize?
2. What Is the Gospel?
3. Who Should Evangelize?
4. How Should We Evangelize?
5. What Isn't Evangelism?
6. What Should We Do After We Evangelize?
7. Why Should We Evangelize?

There are some final words on the "closing the sale" mentality, a recommended reading list, and a word to pastors.

Excellent stuff by Dever. Simple, biblical, clear. The intro about John Harper is worth having alone.

Yes, it appears that the dude pointing on the cover has been in the weight room.

How To Pray - review

2009-07-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

How To Pray by Reuben A. Torrey (1900) is a straightforward guide on the why's and how to's of prayer. The chapters, correspondingly, follow in this fashion:
1. The Importance of Prayer
2. Praying Unto God
3. Obeying and Praying
4. Praying in the Name of Christ and According to the Will of God
5. Praying in the Spirit
6. Always Praying and Not Fainting
7. Praying with Thanksgiving
8. Hindrances to Prayer
9. When to Pray
10. The Need of Prayer Before and During Revivals

Some summaries and excerpts:
We are to pray, as Christ did: a great while before day, all night, before great crises, after great events and crises, when life was unusually busy, before great temptations, and as a habit of life.

A wife's prayer for her husband to be converted is selfish when it is because she wants a more pleasant life or even because of the pain she might feel knowing her husband is lost. Why should a woman desire the conversion of her husband? First of all and above all, that God may be glorified; because she cannot bear the thought that God the Father should be dishonored by her husband trampling underfoot the Son of God.

One might take issue with Torrey's concreteness, but this is a helpful work. There are a few places where I took issue with his presentation of Spirit baptism and how God responds to our efforts, but he offers some sound wisdom to the would be intercessor. Plus, it's free.

Frankenstein - review

2009-05-31T04:41:00.000-05:00

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the classic fiction novel about Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous(?) creation.

This is a fun read that brings up all kinds of ethical issues. Chocked with detail and dialogue, Tom Clancy fans may be a bit disappointed. Nonetheless Shelley is a great author (it is a classic) and pulls the readers through to the very end.

Sticky Church - review

2009-05-30T04:47:00.002-05:00

Sticky Church by Larry Osborne attempts to close the proverbial back door to churches.

The concept is really quite simple - plug new people in constantly forming sermon-based small groups. That's it. The rest of the book is why's, how's, and who's of implementing this plan.

The simplicity doesn't make this a bad book. Osborne has great insights into people and church dynamics, not to mention fine supplements in his appendices. Plus, he writes a book that is easy to read. Good stuff.

Total Church - review

2009-05-29T23:30:00.004-05:00

Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis presents how the gospel and community should shape our churches.

The authors first argue why the gospel and community are the two key principles that need to shape our churches. They then spell out the implications of gospel and community in practice: evangelism, social involvement, church planting, world mission, discipleship and training, pastoral care, spirituality, theology, apologetics, children and young people, and success. Chester and Timmis conclude with some thoughts on having a passion for God.

While the personal experiences of the authors' was insightful, the way they brought the reader through the Scriptures was the real strength of this book. The concepts were simple, useful, and well grounded.

A personal favorite was the distinction between a personal relationship with the Lord and an individual relationship. The gospel is retold from an individualistic perspective and then contrasted with a more corporate (and comprehensive) perspective. (pp 148-149) The comparison is incredibly perceptive! (You'll have to get the book and see it for yourself.)

IMHO, this book is one of the better volumes that talk about how to do church.

On the Incarnation - review

2009-05-28T04:00:00.000-05:00

Athanasius, St. Giles', Cambridge
Originally uploaded by TheRevSteve.

On the Incarnation by Athanasius is a defense of Christ's physical dwelling upon the earth. This defense includes responding to attacks from various groups of people, which is actually quite enlightening.

Athanasius moves in the following fashion:
*Creation and Fall
*The Divine Dilemma and its Solution in the Incarnation
*The Death of Christ
*The Resurrection
*Refutation of the Jews (OT review)
*Refutation of the Gentiles
*Conclusion

"Christ alone, using common speech and through the agency of men not clever with their tongues, has convinced whole assemblies of people all the world over to despise death, and to take heed to the things that do not die, to look past the things of time and gaze on things eternal, to think nothing of earthly glory and to aspire only to immortality."

A profitable read for any believer - I especially enjoyed some of his final thoughts about the profound difference Christ has made on so many different types of people.

Children of the Living God - review

2009-05-27T04:00:00.001-05:00

Children of the Living God by Sinclair B. Ferguson shows how God is the Father of those who trust in Christ. While a seemingly simple concept, the implications are quite enormous.

The book flows in the following fashion:
*The Children of God
*New Birth
*Adopted Children
*The Family Traits
*Family Life
*The Spirit of Adoption
*Family Freedom
*Fatherly Discipline
*The Final Destiny

A snippet:

I am a child of God. He is my Father. He understands and cares for me. The Christian, of all people, should be increasingly aware of who he really is. That knowledge gives me stability in an unstable world. ... It sets me free from the world's anxious quest to 'be somebody'. (p 51)

This short book was required for a counseling class through CCEF and it was a real gem. You can almost hear Ferguson's Scottish Brogue, if you listen hard enough. Or, if you can cajole a certain pastor from Eagle Grove to read it to you, you can also get the proper effect.

The Externally Focused Church - review

2009-05-26T16:20:00.000-05:00

The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson is an encouragement for the church to do real and relevant acts of service, something that is one of the most effective ways of reaching people with the gospel. (p 11) The two targets of these acts are those that are in the margins of society (p 18) and the city (p 20). Rusaw and Swanson spend eleven chapters drawing out what this looks like.

The book is filled with very practical stories, outlines, and diagrams for what an externally focused church looks like. At the end of each chapter are study and sermon helps that reinforce the particular progression of an externally focused church. The quotes, the references to history, the contemporary examples were excellent.

Here's a particular favorite from John Maxwell: "there is only one thing worse than equipping people and losing them; it is not equipping them and keeping them." (p 151)

If I might offer a critique, it would be in the area of Scriptural exposition. I felt that more time in dealing with the text on these issues would have been really helpful. Perhaps a companion volume? There were a few quirky issues as well - the diagram about the transformational sweet spot (p 61) was helpful but not all of the areas were described. Maybe a fuller explanation or a different sort of diagram might have been in order.

Those points aside, I really enjoyed this book. It offers very helpful advice for the Church in being externally focused.

Torn Asunder - review

2009-04-28T23:30:00.003-05:00

Torn Asunder: Recovering From an Extramarital Affair by Dave Carder is book about processing an extramarital affair. The book is divided into three sections.

Section one has five chapters that deal with understanding an extramarital affairs. Explained are the types of affairs and environments that cause affairs to flourish.

Section two has six chapters that deal with the process of healing. Included is how the spouse and the infidel process the affair, answering the 'why?' of the affair, handling anger, rebuilding trust, and recovering intimacy.

Section three deals with whether or not to tell, emotional affairs, and an experiment for spouses that do not want to restore the relationship. The book concludes with a series of appendices - telling the kids, forming a support group, marital satisfaction time line, and a bibliography.

This is a heart wrenching book, but one that offers hope in an extramarital affair. While Torn Asunder is filled with stories, Carder uses lots of diagrams to describe patterns and paths to recovery. There are quite a few sound Biblical principles that guide the process but it would be good to see a more prominent gospel focus in the solutions.

The Heavenly Man - review

2009-04-27T15:01:00.001-05:00

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun is a biography of the miraculous life of Brother Yun, a Chinese church planter. Yun's stories focus on the persecutions he faced as a Chinese believer and on God's provision during these seemingly impossible times. Some excerpts:

About evangelism

God poured out his Spirit out to many desperate souls. Like thirsty men in the desert, they gleefully drank in the water of God's Word. Even though I was just a teenager, the Lord enabled me to lead more than 2,000 people to Jesus in my first year as a Christian. (p 40)

About visions and dreams (of which Brother Yun has many)

As Christians we are not to live by any vision or dream, nor should we seek after them. We must only live by the Word of God and seek the face of Jesus. But we should also be open to allow the Lord to speak to us in these ways if this is how he wants to. Any vision or dream we receive needs to be carefully weighed against the Scriptures, as nothing from God will ever contradict his Word. (p 108)

About family stress

I've suffered many tortures and torments in my life. I've had electric batons placed inside my mouth. I've been kicked and beaten until I longed to die. I've fasted 74 days without food or water. But I tell you from my heart that the most difficult thing I've ever experienced was seeing the condition of my family when they came to visit me [while I was in prison]. They were all skin and bones from lack of food, were dressed in rags, and I could see they were all struggling terribly. (p 209)

About revival in the West

The first thing needed for revival to return to your churches is the Word of the Lord. God's Word is missing. Sure, there are many preachers and thousands of tapes and videos of Bible teaching, but so little contains the sharp truth of God's Word. (p 296)

It is worth noting that Brother Yun has detractors, but most of the accusations leveled against him seem somewhat baseless. For example, Yun's critics claim that he isn't a large house church leader, but the book never makes such a claim. What is more curious is that some of the more miraculous aspects of this book are not in question.

This is a very readable and convicting volume. Many of the episodes have a short retelling by either Yun's wife or by a fellow pastor which add a unique dimension to the accounts. This is reminiscent of Safely Home, only not fiction.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership - review

2009-04-26T16:27:00.001-05:00

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton offers guidance as to to how to seek God in the midst of ministry. The problem Barton addresses is that if Jesus were talking to "Christian leaders today, he might point out that it is possible to gain the world of ministry success and lose your own soul in the midst of it all." (p 13) The solution? "The More that we are looking for is the transformation of our souls in the presence of God." (p 14)

Some excerpts:

If we stay in solitude long enough, we become safe enough with ourselves and with God to say, yes this is how I am. We are able to surrender our to who we are - our limitations, our clinging and grasping and possessiveness, our selfishness and our fear. (p 52)

The practice of "turning aside to look" is a spiritual discipline that by its very nature set us up for an encounter with God. (p 62)

In the church [calling] can be little more than a pious euphemism for doing what we feel like doing. (p 79)

Ambivalence about the rigors of the spiritual journey is a predictable part of any true journey, and it is helpful for us as leaders to know this so that we don't take it too personally. A wise leader can help people understand their ambivalence as a very normal response to the challenges of the journey rather than an excuse to run back to what feels more secure. (p 95)

There are, however, some concerns. A full page Braveheart illustration (pp 96-97) doesn't really happen as Barton describes it. Sabbath-keeping is assumed as a spiritual discipline (p 122), but little support on how Barton comes to this conclusion. Lacking is an acknowledgment how she defines Sabbath-keeping, how various traditions use this term, or how this practice relates to the New Covenant. Barton also has some curious uses of Scripture, for example, Psalm 4:4-5 where "offering right sacrifices" is equivalent to staying faithful to our spiritual practices (p 125) and the idea that Jesus let Judas to stay hoping to the very end that Judas would make a different choice (p 185).

In order to fully appreciate what Barton was trying to take her readers through, I read only one chapter at a sitting. The selected quotes in the middle of the pages were relevant and new, not just a highlight of what Barton had already written. I enjoyed the book and the refreshing insights Barton gives.

Confession of Saint Patrick - review

2009-03-17T20:49:00.003-05:00

Confession of Saint Patrick is a short (11 page) autobiography of the Irish evangelist/church planter. It is a quick but encouraging read.

Some of Patrick's closing thoughts:

Therefore may it never befall me to be separated by my God from his people whom he has won in this most remote land. I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.

And if at any time I managed anything of good for the sake of my God whom I love, I beg of him that he grant it to me to shed my blood for his name with proselytes and captives, even should I be left unburied, or even were my wretched body to be torn limb from limb by dogs or savage beasts, or were it to be devoured by the birds of the air, I think, most surely, were this to have happened to me, I had saved both my soul and my body. For beyond any doubt on that day we shall rise again in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ, made in his image; for we shall reign through him and for him and in him.

Church Unique - review

2009-02-26T21:49:00.003-06:00

Church Unique by Will Mancini is about helping a church find their particular vision (a Vision Pathway). Mancini proposes a three part process in this Vision Pathway: Discover your Kingdom Concept, Develop your Vision Frame, and Deliver your Vision Daily.

Pros:
This book was recommended for some of the features that it would offer, specifically, the Missional Motives and Missional Map portions of the Vision Frame. Filled with examples, Mancini gives some good direction on how to move forward in the murky world on vision casting. He also gives a solid critique of those who simply copy models looking for a silver bullet and identifies the sin of growth idolatry. Mancini is quite thorough and detailed throughout. Complete with a chapter on the history of the 'church growth' movement, Church Unique is well written with great charts and pertinent illustrations.

Cons:
Mancini seems to downplay the importance of doctrine in your Vision Pathway (see pp 123 & 132 for examples). At times Mancini comes across in a very black & white sort of way when it seems unwarranted or unsupported (see p 219 on hiring staff and p 201 on how soon a church can achieve the 'collaboration' stage). And this is thick reading.

While Mancini is very helpful in parts (especially for the reason I purchased it), the rest will have to simmer for a while for me to be able to make a decent verdict. With that being said, there is enough well done material to make this a worthy volume to have as a resource on church vision.

Searching for God Knows What - review

2009-02-23T23:21:00.003-06:00

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller is half Christian apologetic, half critique on the church. But it is all entertaining. And a bit of stream of consciousness. One of the primary points of the book is to emphasize the relationship we are to have with the Lord, not seeing following Christ as formulaic or 3 easy steps to a better you. This book was loaned to me by a friend.

A couple of the highlights

Regarding Jesus (pp 119-149): he believed all people were equal; he was ugly; he liked to be with people; he had no fear of intimacy; he was patient; he was kind; he was God; he is I AM.

Regarding beauty (pp 209-211): we will scarcely find an ugly person on a CD in a regular store, and never on a Christian CD.

Miller is quite penetrating, writes in nearly everything from the perspective of a story, and he does it while not being whiny. He really has a heart for the person who is jaded with religiosity and who wants to know the living God.

Passion for the Heart of God - review

2009-02-22T23:09:00.002-06:00

Passion for the Heart of God by John Willis Zumwalt "is a jump start to renewed passion for Jesus and a roadmap for seeing Him walk out His life through us!" While the Amazon blurb might overstate the scope of this book, Zumwalt certainly challenges one towards seeing the Gospel spread throughout the world. This book was loaned to me by a friend.

Over and over, looking at passage after passage, you are confronted with the fact that our purpose is to glorify the Lord and to spread His gospel. This means to all people. All. This book is designed to stir our heart towards mission. Zumwalt does this so frequently that the chapters only build on one another somewhat; it would be better to say that you get hit repeatedly with same message. There are a few parts that I would either take issue with or I simply don't understand what Zumwalt is saying exactly. But, all in all, this is an excellent motivator to be about missions.

A sample:

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.” (p 160)

Heaven - review

2009-02-12T16:24:00.007-06:00

Heaven by Randy Alcorn is a rather exhaustive look at the subject of what Heaven will be like. The book breaks down into three sections: a theology of Heaven, questions and answers about Heaven, and living in light of Heaven.

One of the basic themes that Alcorn addresses is the notion of Christoplatonism - the thought that the physical is bad and will not be a part of the afterlife. Alternatively, Alcorn shows that Heaven will be a physical place with physical items inhabited by physical beings. Another theme woven throughout the book is the idea of redemption, that is, that the physical world today is a shadow of what the New Earth will be like tomorrow.

This was a great book and will provide a valuable reference in the future. Alcorn offers quite a bit to discuss, but more importantly, he gives us a lot to hope for.

The Prodigal God - review

2009-02-11T16:18:00.005-06:00

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller is a short book that focuses on Luke 15 and the parable commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Keller teases out the implications of how both sons (the younger and the older) see the world and see the Father.

From page 45:

The gospel is distinct from the other two approaches (religion or irreligion): In its view, everyone is wrong, everyone is loved, and everyone is called to recognize this and change. By contrast, elder brothers divide the world in two: "The good people (like us) are in and the bad people, who are the real problem with the world, are out." Younger brothers, even if they don't believe in God at all, do the same thing, saying: "No, the open-minded and tolerant people are in and the bigoted, narrow-minded people, who are the real problem with the world, are out."

But Jesus says: "The humble are in and the proud are out" (see Luke 18:14). The people who confess they aren't particularly good or open-minded are moving toward God, because the prerequisite for receiving the grace of God is to know you need it. The people who think they are just fine, thatnk you, are moving away from God. "The Lord ... cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud" (Psalm 138:6).

When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" the Catholic thinker G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.

This is an excellent short book!

Best books of 2008

2009-01-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

Well, now that 2008 has come to a close, here are my top 10 favorite new reads of the past year:

1) Death by Love by Mark Driscoll
Theology and practice collide.

2) Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson
Exalts faithfulness in ministry.

3) Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by David Powlison
Great primer for seeing change in people's lives.

4) Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal by Richard F. Lovelace
A book from the previous generation, but helpful in thinking through the Christian life.

5) A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie
We just prayed these prayers for a bit and it gave us a bigger vision of God in our own lives.

6) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Sometimes it is about getting things done - completing this post is one more item off my next actions list.

7) The Holman Bible Atlas by Thomas Brisco
I love maps and I feverishly read this from cover to cover.

8) Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God by Larry Osborne
Legalists and performance addicts find recovery.

9) The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
There's lots of reasons for God.

10) The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (audio)
It sounds like audio was a good way to go for this gem.

10 Keys for Unlocking the Bible - review

2009-01-07T22:02:00.004-06:00

10 Keys for Unlocking the Bible by Colin Smith gives the reader an overview of the Biblical storyline.

The 10 keys are:
* The Garden
* The Law
* The Sacrifice
* The Invitation
* The Manger
* The Cross
* The Tomb
* The Spirit
* The Fight
* The City

The book is quite short and I was hoping for something that would give a few more hooks to help someone climb through their Bible. The chapters seem to be modified sermons, which means that there is lots of illustrative material, but the sustained argument often lacks comprehensiveness. But, as advertised, Smith gives his readers a good picture of the Bible. And, it is rather easy to grasp hold of the keys. So, for what it does, it does quite well.

You want more after the intro? I suggest the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Smith's other books are probably good too; others will have to attest to this however.

Judges, Ruth (NAC) - review

2008-12-30T20:42:00.006-06:00

Judges, Ruth (NAC) by Daniel Block is an excellent commentary on the Old Testament books of Ruth and Judges. For Ruth, Block does a fine job, but the real treasure is his treatment of Judges. This review focuses on Judges.

Pros:
* Easy and fun to read
* Great focus on the text; brings out literary features such as ironies, phonetic tidbits, and changes/omissions as the story unfolds
* Makes connections outside the text
* Makes strong application points

Cons:
(For my purposes, I can't think of anything significant. If you disagree with the fundamental way he handles the text, you obviously won't get much out of this book.)

Excellent commentary! I used this to prepare for an adult Bible Study. The group kept growing as the summer went on; people wanted the notes if they missed a study. It helped us not only understand Judges, but gave us tools and motivation for looking carefully at the text.

1 and 2 Samuel (TOTC) - review

2008-12-30T20:40:00.006-06:00

1 and 2 Samuel (TOTC) by Joyce G. Baldwin is a shorter commentary and introduction on 1 & 2 Samuel.

Pros:
* Good evaluation of issues that are presented
* Concise
* Helpful to preachers

Cons:
* Short; issues are missed
* Not as strong on textual issues

This is a great commentary if your expectations are properly tempered. Baldwin will bring up high point issues, deal with them concisely, and move on. This is written for the preacher and while it may lack a depth that other commentaries have, the words that are printed are useful. It is also small enough that my year-old daughter likes to cart it around. While I like Bergen, Cora heartily chooses Baldwin over the other Samuel commentaries.

1, 2 Samuel (NAC) - review

2008-12-30T20:37:00.005-06:00

1, 2 Samuel (NAC) by Robert Bergen is a commentary from the New American Commentary series on the books of 1 & 2 Samuel.

Pros:
* Handles issues in a solid fashion
* Gives good textual insight
* Give good background information
* Shows the connections throughout 1 & 2 Samuel and the OT
* Evangelical and pastoral perspective
* Great introduction

Cons:
* Somewhat brief
* Doesn't help as much in going from text to message as I'd like

This is probably the best of the bunch in 1 & 2 Samuel. Bergen does a solid job and this should be an addition to anyone that is preaching from these books.

Luke 1:1-9:50 (BECNT) - review

2008-12-30T20:34:00.005-06:00

Luke 1:1-9:50 (BECNT) by Darrell Bock is the first in a two-part volume commentary on the book of Luke.

Pros:
* Comprehensive
* Deals well with textual and grammatical issues
* Gives some application oriented insight
* Easy to read and easy to follow
* Great introduction, outline of the book

Cons:
* Some interpretive issues are not addressed. (This will be true in some sense in all commentaries, but given how well Bock does in some of these other areas, I was hoping for more.)
* My evaluation might be weak because I only used his Luke commentary. Other resources that I used for Luke were not commentaries and so I don't have much to compare from.

Other resources that were especially helpful in Luke are David Pao's notes from his English Bible class on Luke, Andy Perry's, John Piper's, and Tim Keller's sermons on Luke, the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, and particularly the Commentary of Use of the OT in the NT.

This is one of the top rated Evangelical commentaries on the book of Luke. It keeps you from going off the cliff, so to speak.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC) - review

2008-12-30T20:33:00.006-06:00

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC) by Anthony C. Thiselton is a robust commentary on 1 Corinthians.

Pros:
* Deals exhaustively with issues
* Well-outlined
* Good connections intracanonically
* Good background on the world of Paul and Corinth
* Great help with the Greek text

Cons:
* Thick reading with a bunch of information that isn't very helpful for the end message
* Not strong in practical application, but issues are covered in such a way that such implications are not difficult to bring out

This is a top commentary on this book. I coupled this commentary with some shorter expositions from DA Carson: Cross and Christian Ministry and Showing the Spirit. I also used some resources from Desiring God, Commentary of the Use of the OT in the NT, the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, and Al Lewis' messages and Q&A on various topics.

2 Samuel: Out of Every Adversity (Focus on the Bible Commentaries) - review

2008-12-30T20:26:00.006-06:00

2 Samuel: Out of Every Adversity (Focus on the Bible Commentaries) by Dale Ralph Davis is a commentary on 2 Samuel. This is not so much of a commentary, but an exposition on the various passages.

Pros:
* Easy to read
* Lots of 'here and now' type illustrations
* Very application oriented

Cons:
* With a few exceptions, little help with the text itself
* Doesn't deal with many intracanonical issues
* Seems to lack a Christological focus

This was a helpful book, if you know how to use it. I bought it at the STRONG urging of a friend at which time I also bought another of Davis' books. I am glad I bought both at the same time, because I don't think I would have bought this one had I only purchased the other first. It has some good uses, but it is very deficient in other areas. But for 2 Samuel, there aren't as many expositional resources, having this was helpful even if I didn't always take the path Davis did.

Brave New World - review

2008-12-29T20:29:00.001-06:00

Brave New World by Adlous Huxley is about a society in the future based on control and stability. In this society, parenting is a non-existent concept (a tot in the pot), monogamy is immoral, and pain is to be subdued with a drug called soma. In contrast to this 'utopian' society, there a reserve where 'primitive' people are allowed to give birth to children, learn non-sanctioned poetry, and live without drug induced vacations. For a few people, these two worlds collide.

While a classic, it is quite racy and very choppy. There are several places where it is difficult to figure out which person is speaking. The story ends rather abruptly and leaves several open loops. Great for discussion and commentary on the direction of society, fair as far as actual reading enjoyment goes.

Creative and fun

2008-12-11T15:38:00.002-06:00

Thanks PoMonkey!

What Every American Needs to Know About the Qur'an - A History of Islam & the United States - review

2008-12-01T19:50:00.008-06:00

What Every American Needs to Know About the Qur'an - A History of Islam & the United States by William J. Federer attempts to give an overview of Islam, the Qur'an, and how it impacts the US. This book was given for me to read by a good friend. Even though I respect this person a great deal, the book was a disappointment in several areas.

Readability:
This book was more a grouping of certain facts, quotes, and comments rather than having any sort of real story/argument to pull you along. Chapters were really general headings to these chucks of text and paragraphs were either a quote or a simple statement.

Argumentation:
Much of the book was bits of information that were loosely pieced together, often lacking connection to the larger argument. References were wanting at times - the author several times referred to (even printed portions of!) Wikipedia for support. Many times a real argument wasn't made, statements were made but not interpreted, and some references were unnecessarily long. At times I struggled to even see how the evidence supported the greater point/chapter heading.

Orientation:
I think the book was trying to make us concerned about Islam as Americans and as Christians. Much of what was stated was not compelling or incomplete. As a Christian, you really have to make me understand why Thomas Jefferson's statements are relevant. As an American, you have to do the same. There was a tightness that was assumed between Christianity and being an American that makes me uncomfortable. Plus, even if your case is made, so what? I felt the implied application is hand-wringing and fear.

There is much to assess concerning Islam and while this book has nuggets, there needs to be a better, more coherent presentation of the salient issues and then what are the implications. Because of the issues mentioned earlier, I would want to consult another source before trusting in the veracity of Federer's collage of information.

Death by Love - review

2008-12-01T19:48:00.005-06:00

Death by Love by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears is a series of letters written to people in his church that had some serious issues in front of them.

What is beautiful about this book is the way Driscoll ties theology and particularly the implications of who Christ is to real (and often super serious) problems.

One of, if not my favorite book this year. Watch the video which outlines the book. You should read it. If you go to my church, it is on the display shelf to check out. If you don't, you can buy it online.

Read a sample chapter. Start with the first few paragraphs - you wonder what can be said in this situation? Keep reading.

The Man Who Was Thursday (audio) - review

2008-11-19T19:50:00.000-06:00

The Man Who Was Thursday by C.K. Chesterton is a story set in the early 20th century London. It features Gabriel Syme, a poet that is secretly working for an anti-anarchist task force in Scotland Yard. The story, laden with allegory, shows Syme's pursuit of the anarchists and especially their leader, a man called Sunday.

This was an awesome audio book: short, compelling, easy to follow while you listen. The story itself is rather good as well. The finale was confusing at parts and I was searching to apply allegorical meaning to everything, which is probably not a good way to read this book. But I did think that this would be a great book for a book discussion.

The DNA of relationships - review

2008-10-31T15:26:00.006-05:00

The DNA of Relationships by Gary Smalley describes our life as a bunch of relationships.

The book is as follows:
* Part one describes the nature of relationships and how you can 'dance' destructively.
* Part two describes the five new relationship dance steps: take personal responsibility, create a safe environment, keep your battery charged, listen with the heart, and adopt a no-losers policy.
* Part three gives some concluding and encouraging thoughts.

The book has a bunch of wonderful material, like the discussion on fear. It is also very easy to read; it even has one page chapter summaries (essentially the chapter minus the stories). This book is easily referenced if you needed to pick it back up. There is a website devoted to propagating these dance principles.

With some of the vigor that this book was recommended, I am surprised I wasn't as taken by it. The were a few quirky things that didn't settle as well. Plus, I felt a bit betrayed when I learned that the chapter summaries are an acceptable substitute for the majority of the chapters. But for many it has been very helpful. Waste of money? Not by a long shot. But I probably won't have our church go through the DVD series without a serious reread.

Christ & Culture Revisited - review

2008-10-21T21:21:00.003-05:00

Christ & Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson looks at the relationship between Christians and the culture they live in.

The book starts out with by looking at Richard Niebuhr's five-fold analysis of Christ and culture. After working through Niebuhr and giving some direction on some preliminary issues (definitions, framing the discussion, etc), Carson then begins to start looking at a positive way forward. This involves a robust critique of what we call 'good' in politics.

I always enjoy Carson's insight and this book is no exception. He does an excellent job at highlighting prominent contemporary thinking on Christ and culture. His critiques and concluding reflections are especially helpful. Highly recommended.

Bits of Brainerd

2008-10-20T16:00:00.002-05:00

Thursday, November 22 (excerpt). Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold, rain, etc. I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now these have less place in my heart (through the grace of God), and my eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me.

Missing In America - review

2008-10-19T21:14:00.004-05:00

Missing in America by Tom Clegg and Warren Bird highlights the need for evangelism in America and gives some practical insights on how to move in that direction.

The chapters lay out as follows:
1. Centering - what it means for Christians to be Christ's followers.
2. Overhearing - if you could get inside people's souls, you'll find God already at work.
3. Translating - indispensable attitudes that will help your friends experience the gospel.
4. Connecting - when people are ready, God can use you to help them cross the line of faith.
5. Traveling - taking the first steps with your friends prepares them for a journey of a lifetime.

The data and the stories in this book are very persuasive in showing that there is a need for evangelism in America. While the chapters are laid out in a logical fashion, I felt within the chapters themselves there was a bit of a shotgun approach. For some, this book has a style that really grabs and engages. For others, read a segment then pause before moving on.

I heard Tom Clegg at a conference and he was great. Part of the appeal of the book was being able to have his 'notes' from the message. As a speaker, Tom is passionate, engaging, and unflappable (given some of the technical problems with the first message).

Good to Great and the Social Sectors - review

2008-10-06T21:56:00.003-05:00

Good to Great and the Social Sectors by Jim Collins is an addendum to his larger work Good to Great. This is a short (35 page) monograph that bridges the gap from the business sector to the social sector.

On leadership:

Level 5 (the highest) leadership is not about being "soft" or "nice" or purely "inclusive" or "consensus-building." The whole point of Level 5 is to make sure the right decisions happen - no matter how difficult or painful - for the long term greatness of the institution and the achievment of its mission, independent of consensus or popularity.

On assessment:

It doesn't really matter whether you can quantify your results. What matters is that you rigorously assemble evidence - quantitative or qualitative - to track your progress. If the evidence is primarily qualitative, think like a trial lawyer assembling the combined body of evidence. If the evidence is primarily quantitative, then think of yourself as a laboratory scientist assembling and assessing the data.

While there are certainly some filters one must put in place, there are some helpful thoughts to distill from Collins. And the brevity means that you get right to the point and can assess his arguments with greater ease.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity - review

2008-09-23T09:58:00.005-05:00

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen is a method of being able to collect, process, organize, review, and do all the 'things' that flow our way.

I have used some of the techniques in Getting Things Done (GTD), but never read the book until now. Wow! I can foresee this book being a very helpful tool in managing the 'things' that I am responsible for. Allen gives simple and natural ideas some legs so that people can sleep at night not wondering if there is anything they missed. Business Week says that this book is one of the longest running best sellers.

Bob Hyatt has some helpful thoughts on using GTD as a pastor. David Allen has his own website (davidco.com), which I haven't really perused, but it may be helpful too.

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ - review

2008-09-23T09:47:00.004-05:00

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ by Donald Whitney outlines the 'whats' and 'whys' of doing things together as the church.

The book identifies 13 disciplines:

Why go to church?
Why seek baptism in the church?
Why join a church?
Why listen to preaching in the church?
Why worship with the church?
Why witness with the church?
Why serve in the church?
Why give to the church?
Why attend the ordinances of the church?
Why fellowship with the church?
Why pray with the church?
Why learn in the church?
Why research the church?

This volume is solid and readable; Whitney gives some good biblical insight into these disciplines. There are, however, some weakness that I would have liked to have seen addressed. On some of the disciplines (like the ordinances), Whitney doesn't go after as many issues as I would have liked (example from the ordinances: what does it mean to examine yourself? isn't given much explanation). Also, the main question that seems to be addressed is one of individualism - why should I do things with the church versus by myself? This is an excellent and contemporary question, but there is more to thinking about disciplines within the church than this question. It seems that the question of individualism frames the disciplines that were chosen.

I recommend and will probably use this book. For those that enjoyed Whitney's book on 'personal' spiritual disciplines however, this book will seem to lack something.

Bits of Brainerd

2008-09-12T02:00:00.001-05:00

Thursday, April 7. Appeared to myself exceedingly ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work. It seemed to me I should never do any service or have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for deaths beyond measure. When I though of any godly soul departed, my soul was ready to envy him his privilege, thinking, “Oh, when will my turn come! Must it be years first!” But I know, these ardent desires, at the and other times, rose partly for want of resignation to God under all miseries; and so were but impatience. Toward night, I had the exercise of faith in prayer, and some assistance in writing. O the God would keep me near him!

1 Corinthians 16 - serving

2008-09-11T12:31:00.002-05:00

Miracles Do Happen. Proof.
Originally uploaded by velo_city.

—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—

1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

May we emulate and take our instructions (v 15) from brothers and sisters who serve.

Bits of Brainerd

2008-09-02T09:22:00.004-05:00

Lord's day, March 13. At noon I thought it impossible for me to preach, by reason of bodily weakness and inward deadness. In the first prayer I was so weak that I could hardly stand; but in the sermon God strengthened me, so that I spake near an hour and a half with sweet freedom, clearness, and some tender power, from Gen. 5:24, "And Enoch walked with God." I was sweetly assisted to insist on a close walk with God, and to leave this as my parting advice to God's people here, that they should walk with God. May the God of all grace succeed my poor labors in this place!

Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal - review

2008-08-27T22:01:00.006-05:00

Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal by Richard F. Lovelace gives a historical and biblical look at what Spiritual life (or Spiritual renewal) looks like.

The book is divided into two major sections. First is the section on the dynamics of renewal demonstrating historical revivals, biblical models, and vital elements found in continuous renewal. Secondly, Lovelace describes what this looks like in the church: sanctification, orthodox doctrine, evangelism, social concern, and discernment on false renewal.

Concerning justification: "Many have so light an apprehension of God's holiness and the extent and guilt of their sin that consciously they see little need for justification, although below the surface of their lives they are deeply guilt-ridden and insecure. Many others have a theoretical commitment to this doctrine but in their day-to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification." (p 101)

Concerning the Puritan move to America: "Most American Puritans in the late seventeenth century seem to have been caught up in either of two forms of self-absorption: those who were seriously religious were urgently concerned to establish their regeneracy and grow in personal holiness, and those who were only formally pious were mesmerized by their interest in land and business. Edmund Morgan has suggested that the predominant motive of the Puritans in moving to America was not mission but the preservation of godly family dynasties." (p 149)

Concerning the perception of younger evangelicals: "From their perspective, both 'liberals' and 'conservatives' have simply given lip service to the rather costly demands of Christian social involvement. The numerical growth of 'born again' religion in what we have described as a potential great awakening strikes them as an almost blasphemous irony considering the depth of unmet social need in America." (p 357)

This book came recommended to me by a good friend and pastoral mentor, Al Lewis, and I heard Tim Keller reference this work several times in his messages. The impact of this book must have been keenly felt years ago; it may be time to bring back this classic.

The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century - review

2008-08-27T20:16:00.003-05:00

The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century by Francis Schaeffer gives thoughts and concerns for the church as it approaches the year 2000. It was an interesting book since (1) I could see how some of Schaeffer's insights have come to pass and (2) I read it in Kenya where some of Schaeffer's concerns were all the more poignant (and others seemingly irrelevant). While much of Schaeffer's book focused on liberalism and the demise of truth, here is a sampling of a few other issues that he touches on.

Concerning hypocrisy: "Gauguin tried to find the ideal in Tahiti, while his family starved in Europe. ... Rousseau wrote on raising children while his own children were institutionalized." (p. 17)

Concerning the church and political alliances: "We should be political co-belligerents not allies." (p 38)

Concerning conservatism: "One of the greatest injustices we do to our young people is to ask them to be conservative and not revolutionary." (p 78)

Concerning flags: "Does two flags in your church mean that Christianity and the American establishment are equal? ... These are not two equal loyalties. Caesar is second to God. Patriotic loyalty must not be identified with Christianity." (p 79)

Concerning hospitality: "Open your home." (p 100)

Concerning denominational splits: "Those who come out tend to be hard and absolutist. ... Those that stay in tend towards liberalism." (p 151)

Concerning Christian absolutes: "Christian doctrine lays down a circle with freedom to move and not a point." (p 158) He goes on, however to call the edge of a circle a cliff that we must never fall off of.

Concerning history: "The historic fall is not an interpretation; it is a brute fact." (p 166)

This being my first Schaeffer book, I was surprised to see how much his tone (as much as you can read tone from a book) shifts on the different subjects he addresses. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more; he is quite thoughtful. If you want to stay on his good side, however, don't kick people out of a church service for wearing jeans.

Please pray for believers in India

2008-08-27T16:00:00.002-05:00

From Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

ORISSA STATE, EASTERN INDIA (ANS) -- More than 600 churches have been demolished, 4,000 Christians forced to flee from their villages, and at least 25 killed as a result of violent persecution in the state of Orissa in eastern India. ...

Since Sunday, August 24, churches, schools and other institutions, prayer rooms, and homes of Christians have been ransacked, burnt and destroyed. Christians have been assaulted and reportedly at least twenty-five have been killed, some of them burnt alive or cut into pieces.

In an August 26 email to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Swarupananda Patra, General Secretary of the All Orissa Baptist Churches Federation, said “All Christian villages [are] empty in Kandhamal as Christians, old and young, sick and pregnant mothers [are] hiding in forests exposed to the non-stop monsoon rains without food.”

He reported that Kandhamal is the hardest hit, with at least eight Christians killed and almost all Christian homes demolished, but Christians in the districts of Balasore, Bargarh, and Kalahandi are also experiencing severe persecution. ...

P. Ramesh Kumar, Principal of the Balasore Technical School, reported to the BWA on August 25, “We are all under immense danger and threat from these groups.…Please continue to uphold us in your prayer particularly for the safety of Christian brothers and sisters who are now hiding themselves in jungles.” ...

This is not the first time Christians in Orissa have experienced violent attacks. In December 2007, Hindu militants burned approximately 90 churches and 600 homes, killing an estimated 10 persons.

Read the full article here.

For more updates visit the following links:
http://www.persecution.org/suffering/index.php
http://www.christianpersecution.info
http://leadingfromthesandbox.blogspot.com

[Thanks to Jim, Jeff, and TJ Addington for the updates]

Tim Keller on family versus the office

2008-08-25T13:02:00.003-05:00

Tim Keller on not spending so much time in the office doing ministry:

So you might as well have a strong relationship with God and a strong family and have people mad at you, because they're going to be mad at you anyway.

[HT: Unashamed Workman]

Bits of Brainerd

2008-07-29T11:17:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, February 7. Was much engaged in some sweet meditations on the powers and affections of the godly soul in their pursuit of their beloved object: wrote something of the native language of spiritual sensation, in its soft and tender whispers; declaring, that it now feels and tastes that the Lord is gracious; that he is a complete sufficient and almighty portions; saying,

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is not upon earth that I desire besides this blessed portion. O, I feel it is heaven to please him, and to be just what he would have me to be! O that my soul were holy, as he is holy! O that it were pure, even as Christ is pure; and perfect, as my Father is heaven is perfect! These, I feel, are the sweetest commands in God's book, comprising all others. And shall I break them! must I break them! am I under a necessity of it as long as I live in the world! O my soul, woe, woe is me that I am a sinner, because I now necessarily grieve and offend this blessed God, who is infinite in goodness and grace! Oh, methinks, if he would punish me for my sins, it would not wound my heart so deep to offend him: but though I sin continually, yet he continually repeats his kindness to me! Oh, methinks I could bear any sufferings; but how can I bear to grieve and dishonor this blessed God! How shall I yield ten thousand times more honor to him? What shall I do to glorify and worship this best of beings? O that I could consecrate myself, soul and body, to his service forever! O that I could give up myself to him, so as never more to attempt to be my own, or to have any will or affections that are not perfectly conformed to him! But, alas, alas! I find I cannot be thus entirely devoted to God; I cannot live, and not sin. O ye angels, do ye glorify him incessantly; and if possible, prostrate yourselves lower before the blessed King of heaven? I long to bear a part with you; and, if it were possible, to help you. Oh, when we have done all that we can, to all eternity, we shall not be able to offer the ten thousandth part of the homage that the glorious God deserves!"

Felt something spiritual, devout, resigned, and mortified to the world, much of the day; and especially toward, and in, the evening. Blessed be God, that he enables me to love him for himself.

Bits of Brainerd

2008-07-21T13:48:00.003-05:00

Wednesday, January 8. In the evening my heart was drawn out after God in secret: my soul was refreshed and quickened; and, I trust, faith was in exercise. I had great hopes of the ingathering of precious souls to Christ; not only among my own people, but others also. I was sweetly resigned and composed under my bodily weakness; and was willing to live or die, and desirous to labor for God to the utmost of my strength.

Thursday, January 9. Was still very weak, and much exercised with vapory disorders. In the evening enjoyed some enlargement and spirituality in prayer. Oh that I could always spend my time profitably, both in health and weakness!

Jeremiah 17 - Thirst or refreshment

2008-07-21T13:44:00.002-05:00

Wind ripples and desert shrub
Originally uploaded by roy.luck.

Thus says the Lord:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

- Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV)

Bits of Brainerd

2008-07-14T14:19:00.002-05:00

Saturday, December 18. Spent much time in prayer in the woods; and seemed raised above the things of the world: my soul was strong in the Lord of hosts; but was sensible of great barrenness.

The Tipping Point [abridged audiobook] by Malcolm Gladwell

2008-07-11T10:46:00.004-05:00

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is an entertaining study on how epidemics work.

A Tipping Point is where momentum for change becomes so great that it cannot be stopped. Gladwell states that these changes - whether they are ideas, products, behaviors - spread like viruses. He goes on to describe the process and the key players in such change.

To understand Gladwell's analysis of Tipping Points, see the wikipedia article. Concise and helpful.

I listened to an abridged version on an audio book. Normally an audio book would be a poor format for a book like this, but Gladwell's thoughts are concise and simple. In fact, one of the Amazon reviews states that the book is too long and is more appropriate as a magazine article. I felt like the audio book was sufficient and it was quite short.

The examples are fascinating. If you liked Freakonomics, you'll like this book.

Quiet Strength [abridged audiobook] by Tony Dungy

2008-07-10T10:56:00.002-05:00

Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy is an autobiography of the now coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

This was an excellent book. Narrated by Tony Dungy, he simply talks about his life: his faith, sports, his wife, kids, the media, friends. This book wasn't about his football career, but it was how the Lord worked in his life.

Needless to say, I am a recent Tony Dungy fan. I heard Dungy on the radio talking about his son who had committed suicide. He talked about all the good that had came about because of the unique opportunities this tragic event had afforded: people coming to Christ, fathers investing time with their sons, etc. When he reflected on all of this, he wondered if he would willingly give up his son for all the good it had done. He thought, "no I wouldn't give up my son for anything." Then he was struck with the fact that God did give up His Son for others. It was a powerful message.

This book is a great audio book. Easy to listen to and follow. You can pick up where you left off with ease. The recordings were very well done.

Bits of Brainerd

2008-07-08T11:52:00.002-05:00

"Lord's day, December 12. I felt in the morning as if I had little or no power either to pray or preach; and felt a distressing need of divine help. I went to the meeting trembling; but it pleased God to assist me in prayer and sermon. I think my soul scarce ever penetrated so far into the immaterial world, in any one prayer that ever I made, nor were my devotions ever so free from gross conceptions and imaginations framed from beholding material objects. I preached with some sweetness, from Matt. 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God," etc.; and in the afternoon from Rom. 15:30, "And now I beseech you brethren," etc. There was much affection in the assembly. This has been a sweet Sabbath to me; and blessed be God, I have reason to think, that my religion is becoming more spiritual, by means of my late inward conflicts. Amen. May I always be willing that God should use his own methods with me!"

Bits of Brainerd - introduction

2008-07-08T11:01:00.006-05:00

David Brainerd was a missionary to the Native Americans in the 1740's. He suffered many ailments and obstacles, probably including depression. While he only lived a short time (he died at the age of 29), this collection of his journals by Jonathan Edwards has had incredible impact on future generations of missionaries.

For our encouragement, I will post some excerpts from Edwards' book.

The Wikipedia bio (short)

Buy the book (long, but rewarding)

Read it for free (Christian Classics Ethereal Library, requires a search)

Oh, That I May Never Loiter On My Heavenly Journey! Reflections on the Life and Ministry of David Brainerd by John Piper (best place to start)

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands - review

2008-05-29T06:30:00.001-05:00

Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp has been called by Deepak Reju (of 9Marks) as the one book to get on Biblical counseling.

After laying a good foundation of our need for Christ, Tripp sets out a fairly simple process to counseling: love, know, speak, do. These steps are broken down into various parts:
* The four elements of a loving ministry relationship are entering the person's world, incarnating the love of Christ, identifying with suffering, and accepting the agenda.
* To gather information, you need to know the situation, the responses, the thoughts, and the motives.
* To speak the truth in love requires a balance of comfort and call to sanctification. The direction of the guidance involves consideration of what the Lord wants the person to see, confession of sin, commitment to new ways of living, and change in daily life.
* To help a person do what God wants has four objectives - establish your personal ministry agenda, clarify responsibility, instill identity in Christ, and provide accountability.

One refreshing aspect about this book is that Tripp looks at quite a few passages of Scripture to find a way forward in being used to help people change. Not the normal sort of proof-texting one might find to support the odd point or two, but almost sermons on sizable passages. But what really stands out is that Tripp continually brings us before a sovereign Lord and before the cross of Christ, giving both hope and grace.

A friend of mine recommended Tripp to me and I must say that he was very insightful and practical. I hope to read some of his other works along with some of his contemporaries like David Powlison. Great stuff; beneficial to anyone who talks with other people.

A Diary of Private Prayer - review

2008-05-28T09:15:00.002-05:00

A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie is a series of written prayers for morning and evening. This was recommended to me by a friend and it has been wonderful. Among many evangelicals, written prayers aren't all that common, probably due to the fear that they will become heartless mantras that are chugged through. But I found that these prayers were stimulating and often times could better communicate my own own desires than I could. The book is cheap and small, the prayers are written in an older style of English (KJV English, written in 1949), but I really enjoyed the content. Here is a sampling:

Twenty-Fifth Day, Evening

Holy God, to whose service I long ago dedicated my soul and life, I grieve and lament before Thee that I am still so prone to sin and so little inclined to obedience:

* So much attached to the pleasures of sense, so negligent of things spiritual:
* So prompt to gratify my body, so slow to nourish my soul:
* So greedy for present delight, so indifferent to lasting blessedness:
* So fond of idleness, so indisposed for labour:
* So soon at play, so late at prayer:
* So brisk in the service of self, so slack in the service of others:
* So eager to get, so reluctant to give:
* So lofty in my profession, so low in my practice:
* So full of good intentions, so backward to fulfill them:
* So severe with my neighbours, so indulgent with myself:
* So eager to find fault, so resentful at being found fault with:
* So little able for great tasks, so discontented with small ones:
* So weak in adversity, so swollen and self-satisfied in prosperity:
* So helpless apart from Thee, and yet so little willing to be bound to Thee.

O merciful heart of God, grant me yet again Thy forgiveness. Hear my sorrowful tale and in Thy great mercy blot it out from the book of Thy remembrance. Give me faith so to lay hold of Thine own holiness and so to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ my Saviour that, resting on His merits rather than my own, I may more and more become conformed to His likeness, my will becoming one with his in obedience to Thine. All this I ask for His holy name's sake. Amen.

Funny graphs

2008-05-27T00:38:00.002-05:00

more graph humor and song chart memes

(HT: Evangelical Outpost)

Life Together - review

2008-05-25T11:17:00.001-05:00

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is overview of what worship is to look like, both corporately and individually. This is a short read, and is rather helpful at times.

The Good - Bonhoeffer on community

Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.

What does that mean? It means, first, that a Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ. It means, second, that a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. It means, third, that in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, accepted in time, and united for eternity. (p 21)

My brother is rather that other person who has been redeemed by Christ, delivered from his sin, and called to faith and eternal life. Not what a man is in himself as a Christian, his spirituality and piety, constitutes the basis of our community. What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us. This is true not merely at the beginning, as though in the course of time something else were to be added to our community; it remains so for all the future and to all eternity. I have community with others and I shall continue to have it only through Jesus Christ. The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us. We have one another only through Christ, but through Christ we do have one another, wholly, and for all eternity. (p 26)

The Bad (for me at least) - Bonhoeffer on getting up early

With remarkable frequency the Scriptures remind us that the men of God rose early to seek God and carry out His commands, as did Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua (cf. Gen. 19:17, 22:3; Ex. 8:16, 9:13, 24:4; Josh. 3:1, 6:12, etc.). The Gospel, which never speaks a superfluous word, says of Jesus himself: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" Mark 1:35). Some rise early because of restlessness and worry; the Scriptures call this unprofitable: "It is vain for you to rise up early ... to eat the bread of sorrows" (Ps. 127:2). But there is such a thing as rising early for the love of God. This was the practice of the men of the Bible. (p 44)

The Ugly (vs the 'attractiveness' of secular standards) - Bonhoeffer on authority

"Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister" (Mark 10:43). Jesus made authority in the fellowship dependent upon the brotherly service. Genuine spiritual authority is to be found only where the ministry of hearing, helping, bearing, and proclaiming is carried out. Every cult of personality that emphasizes the distinguished qualities, virtues, and talents of another person, even though these be of an altogether spiritual nature, is worldly and has no place in Christian community. The desire we so often hear expressed today for "episcopal figures," "priestly men," "authoritative personalities" spring frequently enough from a spiritually sick need for the admiration of men, for the establishment of visible human authority, because the genuine authority of service appears to be so unimpressive. There is nothing that so sharply contradicts such a desire as the New Testament itself in its description of a bishop (1 Tim. 3:1 ff). One finds there nothing whatsoever with respect to worldly charm and the brilliant attributes of a spiritual personality. The bishop is the simple, faithful man, sound in faith and life, who rightly discharges his duties to the Church. His authority lies in the exercise of his ministry. In the man himself there is nothing to admire. (p 109)

All in all, this is a nice little book, although I have a few notable doctrinal differences. I especially liked the first chapter on community.

Cora saying 'mama' (well, kinda)

2008-05-23T18:33:00.002-05:00

Here's Cora saying "mama" - or at least I like to think so.

For more Cora videos, check out this link or the one on the side of the page.

Leading Leaders - review

2008-05-15T21:13:00.004-05:00

Leading Leaders by Jeswald W. Salacuse is about how to lead people who are leaders in their own right. The book provides good, but concise explanations, with chapter summaries, making it an easy read.

Salacuse begins by laying some groundwork as to the issue of leading people that are normally not used to being lead, people that are leaders or very skilled in their own right (like doctors, professors, executives, etc.). He isolates seven tasks the leader of leaders needs to confront:

1) Direction - How do you negotiate a vision for the organization that other leaders will buy into?

2) Integration - How do you make stars a team?

3) Mediation - How do you resolve conflicts over turf and power among other leaders so the organization can move forward?

4) Education - How do you educate people who think they are already educated?

5) Motivation - How do you move other leaders who already seem “to have everything” to do the right thing for the organization?

6) Representation - How do you lead your organization’s outside constituents while still leading leaders inside?

7) Trust Creation - How do you gain and keep other leaders’ trust, the vital capital that your own leadership depends on?

I appreciated the simplicity and clarity Salacuse gives on this issue. If you really want people on board, nothing supplants the hard work of spending time in personal interactions with others.

If you are short on time and see this in the library, you can just go to the chapter conclusions and have a good sense of this book. Sometimes that sort of simplicity is nice too.

This was an interesting tidbit:

Many languages, including French and Spanish, have no precise equivalent for the English words "leader" or "leadership." As a result, the English words for these terms have found their way into those languages. So French books and articles on politics and management often refer to "le leader" (p 20)

Sweet, I learned a French word without really learning any French.

Magary says, "Keep your Hebrew healthy."

2008-05-15T10:54:00.003-05:00

Thoughts from Preaching the Old Testament, Keeping your Hebrew healthy by D. Magary.

Tips for retention:

We will propose strategies on two fronts. Strategies for review will address the importance of revisiting the fundamentals of the language, especially vocabulary and grammar. Strategies for use, or text-focused strategies, will speak to the importance of regular Hebrew use and engagement with the biblical Hebrew texts. (p 33)

Not the flash cards and the audio CD's again! It must be done, it must be done. Remember the alphabet song.

On the importance of using Hebrew:

The most important thing pastors and teachers do in any given week is communicate to people what God has said. The most sacred moments they spend in ministry are the moments in which they are proclaiming the Word of God-the most important words ever written! The man or woman who has the responsibility to communicate to others what God has said needs to know exactly what God has said! A challenge far greater than learning Hebrew is keeping it vital and healthy for use in lifelong ministry. The whole point of studying Hebrew and Greek in seminary is to be able to have direct access to the biblical text-the very foundation for Christian faith and practice-in the languages in which God's Word was originally written. (p 30)

Magary gives excellent, practical advice for his two pronged approach of review and use. He also really appeals to the importance of keeping your Hebrew up (or in my case, elevating it to acceptable levels). One final exhortation:

Everything in the text matters! Every word is important. Every structure reflects a choice that an author has made. Nothing is superfluous. Every component of the text has its function. Knowing how to navigate the Hebrew text by reading and understanding what is actually there makes the difference, at least for a pastor, between preaching the text and preaching the translation. As we have already noted, translators make hundreds of decisions, many of which affect the interpretation of the passage. If the only access one has to the biblical text is through a translation, what does one do where translations differ? (p 52)

This is a good word to not let your languages slide.

Romans 15 - why go?

2008-05-14T13:53:00.002-05:00

i see
Originally uploaded by Jane Costa Lima.

Why go to places where Christ isn't proclaimed? Paul had this hope:

Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.
Romans 15:21 (ESV) cf. Isaiah 52:15

This 'is' my body: sympathy for a former president

2008-05-01T11:51:00.010-05:00

Bread & Wine
Originally uploaded by cas lad.

Since the question of what is meant by Jesus' words, "This is my body," was brought up during our Life Builders time, I thought this would be a good opportunity to take a more careful look at this debated statement. Without sounding too Clintonian, our first stop is to examine the word 'is'.

From Carson, Exegetical Fallacies, pp 57-58

Few words with broad semantic range cause more interpretive difficulties than the copula eimi (to be). Caird (Language and Imagery, p. 101) provides a useful list of what he calls the “main types” of copula usage in Greek:

a) Identity: “Is the law sin?” (Rom. 7:7)
b) Attribute: “No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)
c) Cause: “To be carnally minded is death.” (Rom. 8:6)
d) Resemblance: “The tongue is a fire.” (James 3:6)

This is very helpful and is obviously pertinent to any consideration of the four most disputed words in the Bible, “This is my body.” Several branches of Christendom treat “is” in the sentence as a statement of identity; but quite clearly the semantic range of “to be” is broad enough that identity cannot legitimately be presupposed: it must be argued. ... Caird proceeds to argue that the statement “this is my body” cannot be one of identity, because “Jesus cannot be supposed to have identified the bread in his hands with the living body of which those hands were part.” But if “body” in this instance has a slightly different referent that the body of which the hands are a part, then “is” is being used metaphorically, and all metaphors belong to class d.

To restate: if we agree with the various classifications of 'is' above, then unless Jesus is referring to the bread and wine in the same way he would refer to his hand, the 'is' must fall into category d. Even if you believe in transubstantiation, there is a difference in Jesus' physical body and communion elements: Christ's body contains both the accidents (form) of flesh and blood and the substance of flesh and blood, while the communion elements retain the accidents of the bread and wine. The argument in transubstantiation is whether the substance has changed. But the point is this: clearly there is a difference between Christ's blood and wine.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)

Finally, Transubstantiation differs from every other substantial conversion in this, that only the substance is converted into another — the accidents remaining the same — just as would be the case if wood were miraculously converted into iron, the substance of the iron remaining hidden under the external appearance of the wood.

Again, there is a difference between an iron bar and an iron bar that has all the appearances of wood. The 'is' in "This is my body" is in category d.

The Unity Factor - review

2008-04-27T21:35:00.004-05:00

The Unity Factor by Larry Osborne is a book on having and maintaining unity in church leadership.

Osborne sets the stage:

When I arrived at the church, I was armed with books and ideas on growth, evangelism, and reaching the community. Unity was the last thing I was worried about. If you'd told me to slow down and focus on camaraderie and unity, I'd have chided you for your inward, even self-centered, approach to ministry. We had a world to conquer. But it soon became painfully obvious that we were never going to change the world out there when we couldn't get along in here. p. 11

Osborne gives some great advice on church leadership and cultivating unity. One of his better points is on training the church leadership. Purposely training leadership, helps makes their service a time of spiritual growth instead of a valley where they feel distant from God. Growing leaders think about what is best for the people, not lobbying for particular pet items. Osborne also helps the pastor to negotiate change, think about their compensation, get good feedback, and see their own church dynamic appropriately. This book really scratches where quite a few pastors and other leaders itch.

This was a good dose of practical insight that is helpful whether you are in a large or small church. He really injects some sanity into some very frustrating situations - for the pastor, for church leadership, and for the church.

The Reason for God - review

2008-04-27T21:22:00.004-05:00

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller offers, as the title says, reason for belief in an age of skepticism. What I particularly like about this book is the focus not on the existence of some higher power, but that the Lord God of the Scriptures can be believed in and trusted. This is really an apologetic for Christianity and, more specifically, the Gospel.

The book goes in essentially two parts: answering objections and offering positive evidences. For the first half, Keller offers answers for: the exclusivity of Christianity, the problem of suffering, the moral strictness of Christianity, injustice caused by Christians, a good God sending people to hell, science disproving Christianity, and the trustworthiness of the Scripture. The second half offers reasons to believe in the Lord God: clues of God, knowledge of God, problem of sin, differences between 'religion' and the Gospel, the purpose of the cross, the reality of Jesus' resurrection, concluding with a brief summary and a some direction on where to go next.

As with Tim Keller's sermons, his insights into culture are penetrating and his application of the Gospel is pervasive. Here is an excerpt from the chapter on Religion and the Gospel:

Religion and the gospel also differ fundamentally in how they treat the Other - those who do not share one's own beliefs and practices. Postmodern thinkers understand that the self is formed and strengthened through the exclusion of the Other - those who do not have the values or traits on which I base my own significance. We define ourselves by pointing to those whom we are not. We bolster our sense of worth by devaluing those of other races, beliefs, and traits. This gospel identity gives us a new basis for harmonious and just social arrangements. A Christian's worth and value are not created by excluding anyone, but through the Lord who was excluded for me. His grace both humbles me more deeply than religion can (since I am too flawed to ever save myself through my own effort), yet it also affirms me more powerfully than religion can (since I can be absolutely certain of God's unconditional acceptance). p 181

As a Tim Keller fan, it comes as no surprise that I would highly recommend this book.

I also recommend visiting Steve McCoy's collection of articles and sermons of Tim Keller.

Robinson Crusoe (audio) - review

2008-04-22T08:48:00.004-05:00

Robinson Crusoe
Originally uploaded by Dunechaser.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a novel about the adventures of a sailor that spent much of his time marooned on a deserted island.

Random comments:
* It is VERY detailed. Almost everything is fully described and then reflected upon.

* Action is foreshadowed and developed slowly.

* What I didn't realize that so much (or any!) of the story had to do with Crusoe's conversion to Christ.

* The reader had a slightly off beat cadence. You get used to it.

* This is the sort of book that makes a great audio book. Librivox rocks!

* After 13+ hrs of audio, I learned that there is a part two. I didn't feel angry or betrayed, but I certainly didn't feel happy. It was a bit surreal.

The Religious Affections (audio) - review

2008-04-22T08:29:00.004-05:00

The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards is a treatise on the nature of religion (religion used in a positive way), the heart, revival, true conversion, and the affections.

Note about audio books: This was a 15 hr audio reading that was one of the free monthly books on christianaudio.com. I like audio books when they are telling a story, but not as much when you need to listen (or read) carefully. Some may wonder why I listened to Edwards instead of reading him. I would have mush rather read Edwards than listened to him, but the car is not the place to read and so my choice was listen to him or not listen to him. And I would choose 'listen to him' all over again if I had to. (I do hope to read the book sometime too.)

A brief enticement to get us all to read the book:

The first foundation of the delight a true saint has in God, is his own perfection; and the first foundation of the delight he has in Christ, is his own beauty; he appears in himself the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. The way of salvation by Christ is a delightful way to him, for the sweet and admirable manifestations of the divine perfections in it: the holy doctrines of the gospel, by which God is exalted and man abased, holiness honored and promoted, and sin greatly disgraced and discouraged, and free and sovereign love manifested, are glorious doctrines in his eyes, and sweet to his taste, prior to any conception of his interest in these things. Indeed the saints rejoice in their interest in God, and that Christ is theirs: and so they have great reason, but this is not the first spring of their joy. They first rejoice in God as glorious and excellent in himself, and then secondarily rejoice in it, that so glorious a God is theirs.—They first have their hearts filled with sweetness, from the view of Christ's excellency, and the excellency of his grace and the beauty of the way of salvation by him, and then they have a secondary joy in that so excellent a Savior, and such excellent grace are theirs.

Stop Dating the Church! - review

2008-03-31T11:26:00.005-05:00

Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God by Joshua Harris shows Christ's love for His church and how we should love the church as well.

This book was rather helpful in addressing problems such as church-hopping, the importance of fellowship, and getting little out of our corporate worship times. It is short, begins each chapter with a solid illustration, and outlines the salient points in good fashion. Harris does help us to love the church more and to see how beautiful she really is.

It is worth noting, however, that if you come from an abusive or controlling religious environment, this book is addressing a laissez faire attitude towards church. Harris' chapter on "Choosing Your Church" is quite important and should not be skipped.

The Roots of Endurance - review

2008-03-31T11:23:00.005-05:00

The Roots of Endurance by John Piper contains three short biographies of John Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce.

This book is the product of Piper's biographical sketches from Desiring God's annual pastor's conference (John Newton, Charles Simeon, William Wilberforce). These biographies are different than a 'normal' biography in that Piper is always asking what drove these men. Some of the entertaining details are lightly addressed while personal writings are emphasized to show how these men saw their lives in light of the Sovereign Lord. Well worth either reading or listening to.

"For a nominal Christian is content with proving the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. But the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at the very thought of glorying in anything else." - Charles Simeon (p 114)

The Word Became Fresh - review

2008-03-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

The Word Became Fresh by Dale Ralph Davis is a guide for how to preach from Old Testament narrative sections (places like 1 & 2 Kings, Judges, parts of Exodus, etc.). Davis has an easy-going style to a topic that befuddles and frightens many would be expositors.

My opinion on this book is mixed. First the bad - it is hard (at least for me) to find a way forward in going from OT narrative to sermon from Davis. He tends to give some vague, general direction, provides a partial example, and then leaves it. There are portions where Davis seems more concerned about being humorous or provocative rather than helpful.

The good, but with some caveats:
(1) A strength of the book is the use of vivid (non-biblical) illustrations to highlight certain points. (While one could almost purchase this book his illustrations, I didn't, but it is a nice bonus.)

(2) Davis has a high view of Scripture that includes reading and preaching the text on it's own terms. Davis' example of Jael (Judges 4-5): Jael kills Sisera in a very deceptive way, but rather than condemning her actions, she is praised in the following chapter in Deborah's song. Therefore, while it may seem quite harsh, we must deal with her assassination of Sisera in a positive light (Judges 5:24-27) (pp 71-74).

(3) Davis does a good job of looking at specific passages and showing how he would preach parts of them. Unfortunately, he leaves most of the tension he creates unresolved, letting the reader wonder how to go forward.

(4) It is a nice read; Davis has an easy style that is very accessible.

(5) The section on Quirks (noticing features of the text) was short and quite helpful. Davis gives some big picture thoughts on specific books that are insightful too. There are good nuggets throughout the book, but again, they must be mined.

If you are looking for some real help on preaching OT narrative, I would suggest Steven Mathewson's The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative. Davis' book is a good primer or supplement, but not a one-stop book on the subject. Davis sums the book up nicely when, in explaining why he using Genesis 12 as the basis for his entire section on theology, says, "I'm writing the book and should be allowed to do what I want." (p 31) Indeed, he takes this liberty throughout. Also, this book could have used a Scripture reference at the end, since that would have emphasized the book's real strong point - Davis' own (albeit partial) expositions of particular texts. In the end, I would travel to hear Davis speak; I bet he is quite engaging. But adjust your expectations when you purchase this book.

Cora laughing

2008-03-24T13:50:00.003-05:00

A short video of Cora laughing at some foil paper Carrie is crinkling. Hopefully we can all get some joy from watching a child and her innocent delights.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God - review

2008-03-13T20:17:00.006-05:00

Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God by Larry Osborne takes a hard look at what disciple is and (especially) isn't.

Here are some of the issues Osborne goes after:

* Does being a disciple mean being smart and well read?
* How relationships are different and we all don't relate to the Lord in the exact same way?
* How two people can be totally different and still please God.
* Is it a sin to be average?
* The linear model for growth doesn't fit everybody.
* Why be in a small group? (His thought on connectivity was excellent!)
* The dimmer switch principle: obeying the light we have.
* Trusting Holy Spirit to work in us.
* How God uses unlikely people.
* Can faith and doubt co-exist?
* What is zeal and how important is it?
* Why extra rules undercut true growth.
* How Best Practices can be a curse.
* Projecting your gift on everyone else (and why that's bad).
* How important is balance? (hint: it's not)
* Not trusting inner peace, results, or failure.
* The danger of turning tools into rules.
* The Potential trap.
* Overrated accountability groups meet glass house living.
* Not putting God as our number one priority (He's in the middle of every priority.)

Osborne bring quite a bit of balance to well-meaning, but often hurtful models and advice. The talks I heard at a conference were an overview of his book. While I appreciated much of what he said, I would have liked more of a way forward. There are a couple of friends that I hope to discuss this book with that would be able to give some perspective on how we view growth at our own church.

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ - review

2008-03-13T14:58:00.003-05:00

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper is book designed to guide us toward valuing Christ above all things.

A powerful book that focuses the senses of our mind and heart upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. A taste, if you will from Piper's chapter, The Incarnate Wealth of the Compassion of God:

"It is he who made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (Psalm 100:3). There is one ultimate owner in the universe, God. All others are trustees. Neither we nor what we have is finally our own. It is all a trust to be used for the aims of the owner. In a sense, therefore, all sin is embezzling.

But, strikingly, the New Testament describes the wealth of God not mainly in terms of what he created and owns, but mainly in terms of the glory he has from all eternity. Repeatedly we read of "the riches of his glory" or "his riches in glory" (for example, Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:27). If God were only rich because he made and owns all things, he would have been poor before creation. But that means he would have created out of need and would be dependent on his creation. But that is not the picture of God we find in the Bible. God did not create to get wealth; he created to display wealth - the wealth of his glory for the enjoyment of his people (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). (pp 83-84)

Piper gives us meditations of our Lord for us to dwell on and to savor.

Genesis 29 - Fragile structures of hope

2008-03-12T23:17:00.002-05:00

Four Brothers
Originally uploaded by caaz-izzi.

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben [‘see, a son'], for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon [sounds like ‘heard’]. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi [sounds like ‘attached']. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah [sounds like ‘praise']. Then she ceased bearing.
Genesis 29:31-35 (ESV with notes inserted in brackets)

Leah is driven to desperation. She was swapped out for her sister on Rachel’s wedding night. She is hated by her husband, not the least of the reasons being his increased service to her father (7 more years). In her mind, hope resides in her husband’s love; his love will come through Leah giving him sons.

Sons she gives him, and with each one she again thinks, “This will be the time he loves me.” Their names reflect her desperation: Reuben – ‘see, a son’ – a demonstration of her hope, Simeon – ‘heard’ – God has heard and has given her a son to please her husband with, Levi – ‘attached’ – now Jacob will be attached to me. Every son’s name now mocks her attempts to find hope.

Where do we find hope? In the if only’s? If only I had this, if only I had that, then I’d have all I ever wanted. Peering from the outside in, Leah looks ridiculous. But we have the same issues. Our precious hope is placed in schemes that are so fragile and so outlandish that they border on lunacy when revealed.

Leah, I believe, learns true hope in her last son. “This time I will praise the Lord.” Isn’t interesting that the son that becomes the catalyst for her true hope in the Lord, is the very son whose lineage leads to our Savior? The Lion of Judah is the one upon whom our hope should rest.

Exodus 22 - Immigration

2008-03-12T16:51:00.003-05:00

Immigration
Originally uploaded by lcars.

You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21 (ESV)

Nothing earth-shattering here, but it does seem to me that, as followers of Christ, there should be sense of kindness and compassion when we talk about the immigration issue. On the practical side, I, for one, am glad that people want to come to the US. Normally difficult to reach people are just a car's drive away (maybe closer). And some of the immigrants are believers, going to the cities that most Christians are stumbling over themselves to get out of. (But that would have to be for another passage I guess.)

Everyday Theology - review

2008-03-12T08:53:00.006-05:00

Everyday Theology by Charles Anderson, Michael Sleasman, and Kevin Vanhoozer is a compilation of papers that gives theological insight on specific culture issues. While my number one reason for buying this was because I went to graduate school with the people that wrote the articles, I was very encouraged by the depth and for providing a way forward when we think about cultural issues from a theological standpoint.

How to read cultural texts and trends:
By trying to avoid summarizing Vanhoozer's initial article, I will simply give his own methodological guidelines to interpreting culture (pp 59-60). These are very insightful and quite helpful as we engage the world around us.

1. Try to comprehend a cultural text on it's own terms before you "interpret" it.
2. Attend to what a cultural text is doing as well as saying by clarifying its illocutionary act.
3. Consider the world behind, of, and in front of the cultural text.
4. Determine what "powers" are served by particular cultural texts or trends by discovering whose material interests are served.
5. Seek the "world hypothesis" and/or "root metaphor" implied by the cultural text.
6. Be comprehensive in your interpretation of a cultural text; find corroborative evidence that makes best sense of the whole as well as the parts.
7. Give "thick" descriptions of the cultural text that are nonreductive and sensitive to the various levels of communicative action.
8. Articulate the way of being human to which a cultural text directly or indirectly bears witness and gives commendation.
9. Discern what faith a cultural text directly or indirectly expresses. What convictions about God, the world, and ourselves does a cultural text and/or trend commit us?
10. Locate the cultural text in the biblical creation-fall-redemption schema and make sure that biblical rather than cultural texts have the lead role in shaping your imagination and hence your interpretative framework for your experience.

Interpreting trends:
After Vanhoozer's introduction, the book is then a series of papers that cover: grocery store magazines, Eminem, UN's declaration of human rights, megachurch architecture, Gladiator, busyness, blogging, transhumanism, designer funerals, and weddings. This book gives quite an assortment and quality analysis. Reminds me of a former Christian adviser that gave incredible insight on how air conditioning has impacted society.

This book is a truly helpful collection of essays and not from all the same authors we always read (Vanhoozer excepted). Excellent stuff - especially nice is the glossary at the end. Some discussion questions would be nice, but I guess if you have this be a discussion book, then most of the questions might just present themselves. Also, it is too bad that the website didn't quite pan out. This could certainly be an ongoing series; there is always a need to examine and interpret culture through a Christ-centered lens.