"The Power of One-on-One" (Jim Stump)

TITLE: The Power of One-on-One: Discovering the Joy and Satisfaction of Mentoring Others
AUTHOR: Jim Stump
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014, (192 pages).

How do you reach the world? Answer: One conversation at a time. One person at a time. One at a time. In our age of many to many communications, where social media postings can reach hundreds and thousands of people at a single click, we are reminded that while electronic gadgets and computing devices can do the technological connections, people flourish in smaller networks. According to author Jim Stump, there is power in any one-on-one relationships. Whether we call it discipleship, mentoring, or plain individual conversations, Stump is convinced that meaningful relationships are best build one-on-one. For the transformation of the world begins with the transformation of individuals like you and I.

"Who's Afraid of Relativism?" (James K.A. Smith)

TITLE: Who's Afraid of Relativism?: Community, Contingency, and Creaturehood (The Church and Postmodern Culture)
AUTHOR: James K. A. Smith
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014, (192 pages).

A lot of authors and defenders of the faith have taken up the mantle of maintaining the absolute truth of the gospel and the Word of God. One common argument is that if everything is relative, then everything becomes more and more meaningless without reference to something absolute. For example, if the concept of relativity itself is relative, one asks "relative to what?" If the "what" itself is also relative, then what is it then relative to, and the questioning becomes an endless trip down rabbit's hole. This approach is more combative and may even be perceived as forceful and aggressive. Is this the only way? According to author and Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Calvin College, relativism is nothing to be afraid of. It can even become a tool that helps "loot the Egyptians." or to use the argument for relativism in an positive way. Based on his background and expertise in French philosophical thought, Smith's thesis is based on the work of three prominent persons with regards to culture and thought surrounding relativity. In a counter-intuitive manner, he argues that Christians ought to be "relativists" in the first place, but with a disclaimer. It ought to be read with the three works:

• Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations
• Richard Rorty’s Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature
• Robert Brandom’s Articulating Reasons

It can also be used as a "portal" to begin a study of the above three books. Four films are particularly relevant to this book:

• "Wendy and Lucy"
• "Lars and the Real Girl"
• "Crazy Heart"
• "I've Loved You So Long"

"Growing Up Social" (Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane)

TITLE: Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World
AUTHOR: Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014, (240 pages).

These days, screens are everywhere. With the popularity of digital tablets and the ubiquitous smartphones, all it takes is to notice people looking down on the phones in their palms, and we can recognize a social phenomenon these days. How do we cultivate relationships in a screen-driven world? The best hope is to begin when they are young. That is why Gary Chapman, author of the famous Five Love Languages and Arlene Pellicane, author of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife have come together to help us ensure that technology does not overwhelm our relationships. According to the authors, "Screens are not the problem; the problem lies in the way we constantly use them." This is the central message of the book. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep technology away from growing kids, it is more practical to cultivate guidelines on technology usage.

For all the benefits, the authors remind us again about the problems of technology.

• Lack of real-world teaching moments and family bonding
• Inattentiveness
• Too much technology
• Too early exposure

"Blessed are the Balanced" (Paul Pettit and R. Todd Mangum)

TITLE: Blessed Are the Balanced: A Seminarian's Guide to Following Jesus in the Academy
AUTHOR: Paul Pettit and R. Todd Mangum
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2014, (112 pages).

What happens to one's personal faith in God when he goes to seminary? Are there cases where students enter with a hunger for knowledge leave with a battered devotional life? How real is spiritual burnout in seminaries? Very real, says authors Paul Pettit and Todd Mangum, who warn us that knowledge puffs up and students can "make the Scriptures as clear as ice, but just as cold!" They claim that abstract knowledge wears one spiritually down. Four signs point to an unbalanced spiritual life.

1. Confusing one's identity (teaching more about Christ rather than becoming more like Christ)
2. Privatization and Isolation in studies (entering more inward rather than outward)
3. Lacking zeal and service
4. Lacking prayer and reflection.

The key question is: How can one maintain balance in the academy? Such as balancing the head with the heart; knowledge and experience;  theory and practice; learning about God and living for God; and so on. There are six major thrusts in this book toward that end. First, it is about growing into maturity through higher education.  Maturity means acknowledging the inherent imperfections in all theological systems, Christian formation systems, and the perseverance to try to locate an appropriate balance between the head and the heart. Second, it is about walking the tightrope of learning about God and living for God. Beware of knowledge that puffs one up and hypocrisy that dumbs people down.  Beware of pride, vanity, and insecurity. Recognize that seminary environments are imperfect and the best place to know God is a "relational commitment, a submissive spirit, and a predisposition to trust even when understanding is lacking."

"The Bible’s Yes to Same-Sex Marriage" (Mark Achtemeier)

TITLE: The Bible's Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical's Change of Heart
AUTHOR: Mark Achtemeier
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014, (144 pages).

The title of the book already points out what the book is all about. According to Mark Achtemeier, a former lobbyist against ordination of gay and lesbian people, who played a key role in the decision of the PCUSA to ban gay ordination, the book is about how he had a change of heart. Thus, since 1996, he has been trying to reverse the ban. He makes several disclaimers before diving into the details. He is not gay; not struggling with any same-sex attraction; does not have a family member struggling with homosexuality inclinations; conservative and biblically faithful; and writes this book without any external pressures. Writing this book as a story of his own change of heart, he points out that the main reason for his change is due to a re-interpretation of the Bible's teachings.

First, he takes issue with the traditional condemnation of gay relationships. Using examples of real lives of people honestly struggling with sexual orientation but felt repressed by traditionalists, Achtemeier is troubled with people attacking them as not being biblically faithful. He argues that these people can be very biblically sound despite their sexual orientation. Such people have deep convictions of faith that even resemble that of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He laments at how such believers have been forced to leave the Church they loved. He compares these cases with the celibacy requirements imposed by the Roman Catholic Church.What kind of a God would subject these people to such torment? Second, he questions the traditionalists' teachings and interpretations of the Bible, even suggesting the pattern as similar to neo-Nazi supremacist movement; the pro-slavery causes; and lays the blame smack on interpretation that is out of context. More aggressively, he accuses the traditionalists of doing "erroneous readings of biblical law."

"Be Real" (Rick Bezet)

TITLE: Be Real: Because Fake Is Exhausting
AUTHOR: Rick Bezet
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014, (208 pages).

Let's stop playing hide and seek with one another and quit being fake. That is because being fake is exhausting and being real is liberating. This is the central thesis by founder and lead pastor of New Life Church in Arkansas, one of America's fastest growing churches. Don't know who is Rick Bezet? He is also founder director of the Association of Related Churches (ARC). Still don't register anything? Well, he pastors the very church that the winner of the eighth season of American Idol attends: Kris Allen. So what's the real deal? It is not Kris Allen but the need to put off falsehood and fake personalities and to be real to one another. Likewise, Bezet's reference to Allen stops here as being real does not mean he rides on the famous singer's name forever.

So what does it take to be real? Bezet offers us lots of tips in ten chapters of passionate pleas that soak with honesty, humour, and hope. He uncovers the hidden background of why people tend to hide themselves. Why do they find it difficult to tell the whole truth? He acknowledges that being real can be hard work just like Jacob who wrestles with God openly and gets a new name. He shows us the power of community to create a life of openness and trust. He goes on to assure us that the tendency for people to put on fake fronts is also common in ancient biblical times. Just as God has shown His faithfulness to many people in the past, He can also do the same for us now.

"The Stories We Tell" (Mike Cosper)

TITLE: The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth (Cultural Renewal)
AUTHOR: Mike Cosper
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2014, (240 pages).

In an age of multimedia entertainment, TV and movies have become mainstream in the shaping of culture. Many are watching more TV than before, with more watching online via the Internet. Watching a movie is one way for people to relax after a long day's work. With video streaming, access to movies has risen sharply. Not only are TV and movies attractive, people are also increasingly addicted to them. What can we learn from movies? How do we go about discerning the narrative it projects? What kind of stories are they telling? How are they shaping the culture we live in? Are they just telling a story or is there a deeper implication behind the story? These questions and many more are probed through the lens of Mike Cosper to help us understand popular culture. Cosper is Pastor of Worship and Arts at Sojourn Community Church in Louisvilled, Kentucky. He vividly remembers how his family first had a 48-inch rear projection TV and a satellite dish. Raised on Hitchcock, Twilight Zone, progressing to Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, Cosper knows what it means to be a TV junkie and how such programming can get inside one's head. So much so that the stories we watch can influence and change us in a way that we least expect. He gives some insights that are worth noticing.

• TV can shape us in a way that we can be unaware of
• Storytelling don't aim at our heads or hearts. They aim at our imaginations
• Stories do not just report the facts. They reside in our heads long after the movie is over.
• Rationality is weak against the power of images and stories.
• Even shallow movies can connect with our emotional core even when we brush it aside as slapstick
• ...

"Generous Spaciousness" (Wendy VanderWal-Gritter)

TITLE: Generous Spaciousness: Responding to Gay Christians in the Church
AUTHOR: Wendy VanderWal-Gritter
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2014, (288 pages)

Gay rights and homosexuality matters have become hotly contested issues in many societies. It has split large segments of society into more than two camps. One side is pro-gay while the other side oppose gay agenda. Even religious circles are not spared, with many Christian groups being torn into two over this very issue of homosexuality; the definition and re-definition of marriage; the rights to educate children about heterosexuality and homosexuality; the legal system surrounding this and so on. If anyone is looking for a silver bullet solution, I suggest look elsewhere. While the two groups representing the extreme ends of the homosexuality issue have been very vocal and active, there is a sizeable part of the population that toes the middle ground. This groups asks whether there is a place for both views. They question the pros and cons of both groups represented. They attempt to be as conciliatory as possible and at the same time avoid being misrepresented by others. Unfortunately, voices that offer alternative views apart from the two groups are not able to articulate their position as well. Wendy VanderWal-Gritter calls many of them as offering "proffered answers," which are unsatisfactory and not sufficiently inclusive. Thus, rather than offering another book of that kind, the author introduces this book more as "permission to confront the tensions and air the questions you should ask" so that one can participate in expanding the space for constructive engagement, interaction, and understanding. That is why this book is called "Generous spaciousness."

VanderVal-Gritter begins with a confession so as to clear the decks for open discussion. She admits that she is neither gay, ex-gay, or having any same-sex attraction tendencies. She openly states her belief in the traditional position of marriage being between man and woman. She also shares her experiences of being cornered, even threatened by gay advocates simply because of her stand, so much so that she has become tired of "triumphalistic" behaviours and bigoted attitudes from both sides. She is Executive Director of New Direction Ministries of Canada, a ministry that reaches out to gays and lesbians through understanding and appreciating the tensions they feel. Due to her moderate stance, she was even invited to give a keynote address at Exodus leadership conference, and her take on what it means to minister to ex-gays. Speaking to the conservative circles, she lists three distractions that prevent building bridges of understanding.

1. Causation: where activists try to find the root causes of homosexuality
2. Orientation Change: where groups try to focus on sexuality changes
3. Political Involvement: where groups politicize the whole issue.

"The Marriage You've Always Wanted" (Gary Chapman)

TITLE: The Marriage You've Always Wanted
AUTHOR: Gary Chapman
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014, (144 pages).

Books on marriage will always be published. Why? That is because challenges in marriage will always be there. Despite the discouraging statistics on marriages that lead to divorces, Chapman continues his ministry of hope and reconciliation to help married couples stay married and sustain healthy marriages. Making it personal, he challenges couples to work toward the marriage that they have always wanted. This book, in its third publishing year, asks several pertinent questions about all things marriage.

• Why do people marry?
• What does it mean to be "one?"
• Why do people often behave as if 95% of the problem is their spouses?
• What is the problem with waiting for the other person to change first?
• What does love really mean?
• What about communications?
• How to go about with decision making?
• What about sex in marriage?

These questions and many more are tackled with several principles in mind. Let me mention five notable ones.

First, the "supreme purpose of marriage is the union of two individuals at the deepest possible level and in all areas." This mean oneness. This means patterning one's marriage according to the perfect oneness in the Triune God.

Second, the key principle of positive change is to change in such a way that our mates will be encouraged toward marital health and purpose. The power of choice is stated as follows: "People do not make us miserable. We choose to be miserable."

Third, one must not wait for the other to change first. Instead, take the initiative to change regardless. Chapman shares a heartwarming story of how a woman was on the verge of exacting revengeful acts upon her husband to make him pay. Instead, Chapman encourages her to love and do kind deeds so much that the husband cannot bear for her to leave. The marriage eventually flourished.

Fourth, Chapman covers love using 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide.This is demonstrated through open communications, and skills in helping couples connect with each other. It is not about feelings but an act of the will to want to do the right thing. I appreciate Chapman's down to earth approach and his stories of how he engages common marital challenges with skill and wisdom. Some of the common responses come from real life counseling which Chapman generously shares with readers. 

Fifth, many practical issues are covered, such as money, relationships with parents, decision making, children, and many more. What makes this book really readable is its simplicity and principles bathed in experience and wisdom.

Overall, if you are a fan of Gary Chapman's writings, you will have no problems identifying with his style. If you are new, you need to read his famous "Five Love Languages" series. For those of us in marital counseling or facilitators for all things marriage, this book is another resource to have. I appreciate Chapman coming back to the key point that marriage is about oneness. Such a principle is probably the single most important truth that people would need to know. Why? It is in essence about growth. It is about two persons becoming one flesh in all manner of life. It is more than just being united. It is union. This means marriage is not about happiness but about oneness that endures through all circumstances in life. So dispel whatever philosophies that over-emphasize the importance of happiness. Union is far more important as it is the key to true joy that we all have been made to be. It is this vision that will hold a marriage together far more powerfully than romance, feelings, or happy events. This book is a nine-chapter nudge toward this vision.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Moody Publishers and Graf-Martin Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Futureville" (Skye Jethani)

TITLE: Futureville: Discover Your Purpose for Today by Reimagining Tomorrow
AUTHOR: Skye Jethani
PUBLISHER:Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2014, (224 pages).

This book is not about the future. It is about today with an eye on the future. This kicks off a very fascinating look at what it means for us as individuals and how each of us has a role to play in the present leading up to the future. Skye Jethani, author and pastor gives us ten aspects of what he calls "Futureville" for us as a people and society. Readers will be curious to find out how. The author shows the way ahead with creativity and poise.

In Vision, he urges us to be constantly moving forward, not to be trapped by the problems or cynicism of today, but to be inspired that there is more purpose and dignity than what the world is telling us right now. In "Culmination," Jethani tries to put the future in context, using two biblical metaphors of the garden and the wilderness as he paints a vision of a garden city. He then explores three pathways to such a vision. The first is "Evolution" which has flourished since the time of Enlightenment and perpetual progress. Despite the progress, there are signs that the world is increasingly broken and fragmented. The second is "Evacuation" of such a progress-driven road. Such a path is also not as fulfilling as it is more escapist from the world rather than living with hope. The third path is a lot more promising, called "Resurrection." Jethani uses the story of Mandela to show us that hope wins. Like Jesus, we are called to be gardeners working out in this world according to our calling. He guides us through the important topic of "Vocation," which is a lot more crucial in engaging people rather than becoming distracted over the different ways of doing church. With calling comes the need to cultivate "Order" in unity, social action, and justice. With order, we move away from chaos toward creative endeavours that reflect the goodness and blessings of God. With order comes "Beauty" for life is not about doing stuff. It is also admiring God's creation and the pro-creative activity that God has empowered us with. The last two segments cover "Abundance" and "Hope" which tie up the Futureville vision of the author.

So What?

Skye Jethani has a bold vision for the future, vividly sketched out in ten ways. Filled with illustrations and imageries, readers will discover that there is more hope for the future as we bask ourselves in the promise of God's new city. We as gardeners have a role to play. Let me offer five observations. First, the book is a breath of fresh air to a stale world infatuated with progressive activity. There is a unconscious faith in progress as if progress per se will be able to buy us salvation. So we upgrade. We do home and personal improvements. Yet, there is something lacking about progress. Progress to what? Second,  I appreciate Jethani's emphasis on calling, something which we need to be reminded of over and over again. The topic of vocation (calling) is a crucial piece of the overall purpose in life. Without understanding our calling, how do we know how to participate in the bigger picture of the world? The chapter I find is too brief and more could have been said about it. Third, the three pathways can be integrated better with a diagram. I find the first two pathways easy to grasp, but I would have appreciated a gentler movement toward the third path, which I find a quantum leap rather than a gradual climb. Maybe, a bridge can be helpful to move from paths 1 and 2 toward 3. It is like paths 1 and 2 are earthly while 3 is too "heavenly" for earthly appreciation. I am just writing my first impressions, and perhaps, given time as I let the chapter sink in, I will understand more. Fourth, the title of the book may be a little misleading, as it tends to communicate a science-fiction kind of a futuristic world. I know where the author is coming from, but I suppose readers of sci-fi will be disappointed. Finally, I must commend the author for a bold vision that attempts to shine light on our great hope despite the problems of today. We need that. We need a re-focus on God's kingdom that will come. What is needed is for more of us to be energized, excited, and enthused to live out our calling.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Thomas-Nelson and BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.