"Pull" (Bob Franquiz)

TITLE: Pull: Making Your Church Magnetic
AUTHOR: Bob Franquiz
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013, (192 pages).

Many churches grow stagnant and stale over time. They become unattractive and for some, a chore to go to. Without the "pull" factor, churches will decline and even go out of existence. A Church that is not growing is dying. A Church that is not doing outreach is not interested in growing. A Church that is not doing discipleship is not caring enough for her people. The key for any revival, any start of growth, and any fruits lies in learning to reach out the way that Jesus has taught us. Bob Franquiz, founding pastor of Miami's Calvary Fellowship, and founder of the Church growth website, ChurchNinja.com, is passionate about all things outreach. He believes that every Church must do outreach to three groups of people: Internal, Peripheral, and External. Very importantly, one needs to remember that there are no "silver bullet" solutions to this problem. It requires a multidimensional approach that galvanizes the entire Church to work together in the Great Commission.

The Internal group refers to people already attending faithfully the services each week. They are those who are already within the fold but needs constant nourishing and care. The primary way to feed them is via the pulpit ministry, discipleship, evangelism, and to make them eager to come to Church.

The Peripheral group refers to friends, family, new believers, and acquaintances with regular church attendees. This group needs to be sensitively reached through special Sunday events. For new believers, they can learn the 8 '-ates' to ensure that they are not left behind. The three "irrefutable laws of outreach" will empower members to know who they need to reach; how to reach them; and how to get their attention.

The External group refers to those outside the two categories above. They can be strangers, neighbours, or anyone walking into the Church. Through direct invitations, flyers, social media, and all kinds of media both online and offline, churches can rally their people to do outreach together.

Franquiz ends the book with the story of how a Pastor Willie who had never done promotional outreach, turned around to help his church reach the highest level of church attendance once outreach becomes a focus of ministry.

So What?

The underlying conviction in this book is that whatever is written must be practical. Whatever is practical must be practiced. Whatever that is practiced needs to be shared. Outreach is the key theme. Throughout the book, Franquiz lets his excitement about evangelism leads the way in reaching not just one group but all groups. He believes it is possible. This is critical because belief drives actions. Actions that are performed without much belief will gradually fall with a dull thud. The single biggest benefit is for me, is in recognizing the three groups of people to reach out to. Conventional understanding tends to see outreach as more for people out there. No, it needs to be as all-encompassing as possible. Sometimes, I like to call it "in-reach" for those within the Church, and "outreach" For those outside. The peripheral section may be somewhere between the two. Anyway, the idea is the same.

I appreciate the many examples and steps suggested to spur imagination and creativity. The part about digital evangelism is for me one of the highlights of the outreach explosion. Considering the explosive growth of social media, churches will need to see this more as an opportunity and to approach it with less fear and more faith. Let not the ills of social media discourage anyone from trying to use it rightly.

While there are many good points in the book, especially the easy to follow practical steps, I feel that Franquiz may have unwittingly become dogmatic about those who have not done anything to not write a book about it. While in many cases that is true, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the different gifts given to different people. There will be some who have the gift of writing but someone else the gift of practicing. For example, Philip Yancey is a writer, but not all the things that he has written about is exactly something that he had personally practiced. Writers often put down what they have learned from others too. That said, this book has more positives to take home. It is a powerful adrenaline for outreach.


Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.


conrade

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

"Eat Move Sleep" (Tom Rath)

TITLE: Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes
AUTHOR: Tom Rath
PUBLISHER: Arlington, VA: MissionDay, 2013, (256 pages).

Do you know that sitting is one of the most hazardous activities in our modern living? Do you know that sleeping less in order to get more work done can also hurt our overall long-term health? What about additional nutritional awareness apart from counting calories? These findings and many more are described in this very illuminating book about how our daily habits are critical elements to our long-term health. Longevity is not inherited. Physical inactivity can be very harmful. Health must not be taken for granted. In fact, simple healthy lifestyle choices can help 90% of us live up to age 90! Is it impossible? Are we missing something here? No. According to Tom Rath, all we need to remember is the "Eat, Move, Sleep Equation." These three are all interconnected. Point by point, Rath goes on to debunk the promises of super diets; how inactivity is our greatest enemy; and how we need to learn to sleep well and longer!

"Hope in Front of Me" (Danny Gokey with Ben Stroup)

TITLE: Hope in Front of Me: Find Purpose in Your Darkest Moments
AUTHOR: Danny Gokey (with Ben Stroup)
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2013, (208 pages).

His wife died unexpectedly without seeing him go on to the big stage. If he had pulled out of the competition, people would understand. How then did Danny Gokey overcome the height of all the odds and the depths of grief, to become a Top Three finalist on the popular TV show, American Idol in 2008? This book is an inner look on how Gokey finds hope amid emptiness and meaninglessness. His initial words say it all: "Hope means nothing - unless it's all you have."

When one is down and out, hope is the last gasp for fresh air, that last drop of water for parched lips; and the last parachute left when plunging into an abyss of uncertainty. He begins the book with a trip down memory lane, how he met his late wife Sophia, their dating relationships, the proposal, the wedding, and the new life together. Even then, the challenges of life soon took over. Financial struggles became even worse when he lost his job. His volunteer time in Church was no guarantee of any career in the music industry. Both Sophia and Danny were basically living more dark moments than bright. If that is not problematic enough, Sophia was diagnosed with a heart condition. From then on, the Gokeys struggled with even more uncertainty, with the medical factor a major one. Despite all the emergency prayers, vigils, accumulation of knowledge and faith about miracles, Sophia never did wake up from her last surgery. The rest of the book details how Danny was able to pick himself up each time he fell. Music started to take a life in Gokey's life. The song was no longer about words or melodies. It was about him entering into the music and making it his own story. Gokey learned several lessons of life, which I paraphrase as follows:

• In order to move forward, one must learn to let go of the past.
• The best place to start is where we are.
• How we think affects how we live.
• The more we recognize our own uniqueness, the more capable we are to see the beauty in others
• Sometimes, we just have to swim under the darkest questions in order to come up to the brightest answers
• Many good things are in front of us, if only we open our eyes and really see.
• God has given us strength and we are strong enough to overcome what God has placed in front of us.
• Looking outward to assist others will help us avoid depressing inward lives.

These and many more form the lessons behind the book. As I read the book, I can see the struggles of Gokey continue to play a big part in the shaping of his life. Going through the hard times of life can be very difficult. Those who fail to do so end up making bad decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Those who overcome will live to tell the world their story. This book is that story in which readers will find very encouraging. Gokey ends with some of his thoughts about his stint at American Idol. In fact, learning to grieve properly when one is under public eye is perhaps one of the most difficult challenges for anyone. 

Hope is real. Gokey knows it for he has lived it out. He learns that it is important to prepare for the unexpected. He realizes that it is important to have something to live for. He testifies of the need for community during times of need. Hope is very much in front of us, if only we can see it. Even if we do not see it, that does not mean hope is not there. That reminds me that hope is closely linked to faith we have on things that we do not see, and how hope is anchored on the love of God that we know is there. Always there.

Rating: 3.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of NavPress and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Minding the Heart" (Robert Saucy)

TITLE: Minding the Heart: The Way of Spiritual Transformation
AUTHOR: Robert Saucy
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2013, (448 pages).

Isn't the mind for the brain and feelings meant just for the heart? No. The mind and the heart are closely connected in ways that we have sometimes fail to appreciate. Using a catchy title to describe the intimacy of the mind and heart, Biblical scholar, Robert Saucy's key thesis is that thoughts and beliefs impact one's attitudes and actions in life. Looking at the various tools and devices that have often been paraded for spiritual growth, Saucy laments that very little has been said about how the Scriptures, prayer, sacraments, fellowship, and others, can speak into the area of spiritual growth. Without a transformation of the heart, spiritual disciplines are what they are: Mere outer things done without much inner impact.

Using the journey metaphor, Saucy asserts that the beginning of growth is at forgiveness, sustained over continual spiritual transformation, culminating in abundant living in God. Such an abundant life is real and achievable. The important thing to remember is this caveat: Spiritual transformation is the Lord's initiative, not ours. How is this done is what this book will show us.

What is heart? For Saucy, understanding the meaning is most critical as this represents the union of body, soul, and spirit. It is the center of our thought, our being, and our behaviour. Without a transformed heart, there will be no transformed thought, being, or behaviour.We need transformation basically because our hearts are already evil. Sounds bad? The author then describes from scriptures how the human heart is evil, perverse, and bent on corruption of all sorts. Saucy even shows from biological research that the heart is no mere blood pumping machine. It is a living organism with its own nervous system. It is the center of volitional, emotional, and intellectual activities. In knowing, thinking, and hearing, the art of loving unites all of these activities and the person into one. For all of us, we need spiritual surgery of the heart, that we can be cured, and be guarded against sinful influences. God can give us a new heart. 

Key to Saucy's thesis is that spiritual transformation of the heart begins with the renewing of the mind.  With a renewed mind, one's thoughts will be toward truth seeking more and more. It will resist deceptions. It is convicted about the truth making one free. This means meditation and training the heart toward being sensitive to the things of God. It does not mean knowing per se. It also means tasting the Word. It is interesting to see the results of meditation as follows. There is:

• A change in emotion from being moved by the Word to moving toward the Word;
• Learning Godly sorrow instead of worldly sorrow;
• With Faith comes Sureness and Faithfulness;
• Lectio divina (lectio, meditatio, oratio, comtemplatio)

My Thoughts

This is a very big book on simply one idea: That the mind and the heart are both integral to the whole being. Throughout the exposition of this idea, Saucy draws several paradoxes to remind us that there is only so much that one can try to control. For instance, as we meditate on the Word, we will feel drawn more and more to the Word. At the same time, meditating on the Word also brings about a desire in us to know more about the Word. Spiritual transformation means learning to see things more and more from God's perspectives and less from worldly perspective. It means delighting in the beauty of God's truth and shunning the deceptions of the world. It means learning to take the yoke of Christ and not be burdened so easily by the worldly loads. Speed is never man's accelerator, but God's pace. There are many references to biblical support. If I have one criticism, I will want to say that while Saucy has rightly identified the Hebrew usage of kidneys used figuratively in the Old Testament with regards to the inner being, I think much more can still be said about that. In fact, there is quite a lot of difference in the way the Old Testament and the New Testament uses the word for 'heart.' In fact, the Greek understanding of heart is very different from the Hebrew mindset. For example, when the Hebrews use 'heart,' they are referring to the whole person. They are pointing to a deep longing of the whole being, and not just the feelings portion. In contrast, Greek understanding of "heart" is kardia, from where we get the word "cardiology" or the science of the heart. Simply state, the Hebrew form is more inclusive as a whole, while the Greek form tends to be more analytical in parts. Of course, there is much more to the differences, but suffice to say, Saucy ought to have tackled this difference in greater detail as it has cultural and historical significance. In fact, in our modern 21st Century world, intoxicated with romance of all things love, it is important that the way modern people understand "heart" is rather different when compared to the Jews, the Greeks, and even the Romans.

Anyway, I suspect Saucy's main point is total transformation and what it looks like for the modern person. He has done a credible job in reminding us that things of the head and the heart are not separated but to be considered one whole. That is already an important point worth stressing over and over again.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Key to the Middle East" (Derek Prince)

TITLE: Key to the Middle East, The: Discovering the Future of Israel in Biblical Prophecy
AUTHOR: Derek Prince
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Chosen Books, 2013, (208 pages).

Why is peace so hard to attain in the Middle East? Is there ever going to be a solution to the Middle East quarrels? What significance does Biblical prophecy has to the future of the disputed lands? What if someone tells you that there is a "key" to understanding the Middle East? Published previously as "The Last Word on the Middle East," author Derek Prince insists that the two biggest reasons behind the problems and promises of the Middle East are oil and Israel. As one who had personally lived and witnessed the events in Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Palestine, Israel, and other Arab lands, Prince first chronicles the historical developments surrounding the Middle East before giving his prophetic take.

On the historical overview, Prince begins by noticing the Jewishness of the Old Testament, of Jesus, of the Bible's context, and of the future according to Revelation. The return of the Jews coincides with the prediction of a coming home from the Northern land. Prince is convinced that the Holocaust followed by the founding of Israel on May 14th, 1948 is a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 3:14,18. He even accuses a "succession of Christian theologians" who have helped to promote anti-Semitism. As a Briton, he tells of the good and bad deeds of the British government that have largely shaped the formation of the Palestine of today. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 sets in motion a good plan for statehood for the homeless Jews. The inconsistent implementations and "hypocrisy of the highest order" have played a big part in the instability of the holy land. Six key prophetic fulfillment are described. First, the formation of Israel is a direct fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. Just imagine how miraculous a tiny nation can survive amid a formidable and hostile neighourbood. Second, regathering the people from exile is a common promise in the Old Testament. In the formation of the state of Israel, God has given His people "their own land," that they will "never again be uprooted," and that the land is a "gift" from God. Third, even the New Testament, especially the gospels have reiterated the same message of the founding of the nation of Israel. Four, on the identity and the disputes of the lands, God has frequently spoken about the importance of this land, that the land belongs forever to the ones who will obey God's will. Only when everyone, both Jews, Arabs, and all inhabitants of the land bow down to the will of God can there be peace and harmony. Five, how we respond to the biblical prophecy is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy. Under the judgment and mercy of God, the unjust will be punished. The persecuted will be shown mercy. Six, Jerusalem will remain the center of contention, even though Israel has promised freedom of worship and passage to the holy city for all religious faiths, especially the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

So What?

Derek Prince is clear and convicted that the key to the Middle East is Israel, and the relationships with the Jewish state. Just to see how resilient one nation can stand up against the huge political, economic, military, and social pressures is a case in point. Other than divine help, it is impossible to see how human efforts can bring about the present Israel. The book is a huge call for all, especially the Christian community to take Israel seriously because how they are treated is how the future of the world will be shaped. As long as there is no peace in the Middle East, the rest of the world will have no peace.

Readers will find this book a fascinating read, but it remains one interpretation of the whole Middle East event. In fact, there is no silver bullet solutions as far as the Middle East peace initiatives are concerned. Think about how America, especially at the efforts put in by five American Presidents to achieve peace between Israel and the Middle East. To this day, nations like Iran and several other Arab nations continue to insist on the "destruction of Israel." Israel too continue to defy world council leaders in their struggle to fight back and take their own actions in the name of self-defense. For me, the Middle East is one big complicated puzzle that cannot depend on any one single solution. There are many ideas, many strategies, and many initiatives. Without a common person driving it, without a common understanding of the complexities involved, there will never be peace and prosperity. I agree with Prince that the key to peace is on the question of Israel. I do not quite agree that the entire future stems from one nation. My reading from Scripture is that there is a "new Israel" which comprises of Gentiles grafted into the called people of God. Just like there are good Jews, there are also good Arabs. There are good Gentiles. There are good being done by people of various religious beliefs. God can use any of them, including the people of Israel. God can use evangelicals too, not just for the benefit of any one people group, but for upholding peace, justice, mercy for all people.

Read this book to gain greater insights into the history, the contexts, the cultures, and one interpretation of the biblical prophecies. Even if you are convinced by Prince, which I am in some way, be ready to consult alternative sources so as to gain a bigger picture of what is going on. Prophecies are not the property of any one person. In fact, it is entirely possible, that what Prince has written forms a part of the bigger picture. My recommendation: Be informed with the importance of Israel. Be equally informed that it is the Player up there that will determine the playing field, the players, and the how the future is going to be played out.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Begin" (Bob Franquiz)

TITLE: Begin: First Steps for the Journey of Faith
AUTHOR: Bob Franquiz
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013, (112 pages).

What does it mean to be a Christian? How do we pray? Why must we be a part of a community? Is there a simple way for beginners to study the Bible? Is baptism necessary? Written for the benefit of new believers, Bob Franquiz, founding pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Miami Florida has written a simple beginner's guide to begin one's journey of faith. Having experienced what it means to be without a guide on his early Christian growth, Franquiz puts himself in the shoes of a newly minted Christian, eager to grow and grasp at faith. He shares his five early decisions that helped shape his beginning.

1. Daily prayer with God;
2. Daily meditation on the Word;
3. Weekly Church attendance;
4. Fellowship with a community;
5. Public Expression of faith through Baptism.

Based on these five personal learnings, Franquiz shares his method of beginning faith. Being a Christian is basically about confessing Jesus as Lord, obeying God, and letting this relationship influence our relationships with others. He uses the Lord's Prayer as a guide for prayer. He focuses on community building in terms of caring, sharing, loving, and relating to one another in God's love. Reading, meditating, and living the Word of God is his three simple steps of learning about studying the Bible. He spends some time to explain why baptism is important.

So What?

The fact that a book like this needs to be written shows us the need among many communities to have a guide that is simple to use, easy to understand, and palatable to new believers. Pastors and teachers can use this book easily for their teaching curriculum. It is also priced like a typical Bible study booklet for use among young believers. For that matter, it is disappointing that the book does not have a set of study questions that can be used together with this. Do not expect heavy theological treatment on any topic. The teachings are at a basic level and most suitable for early discipleship classes. This book is a great gift for anyone who has just become a Christian; baptismal candidates; young believers; or anyone desiring a systematic guide to help them in their spiritual growth.

Rating:

conrade

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

AHA (Kyle Idleman)

TITLE: AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything
AUTHOR: Kyle Idleman
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2014, (208 pages).

Have you ever wondered why the self-help industry is now estimated to become a more than $11 billion industry? Why is self-help so popular? How are Christians to live in a self-help crazed world? Enters this book that attempts to be the "anti-thesis" of the self-help phenomenon. The first thing that readers of this book will be challenged is this: Reject your self's offer to help. As we reject our natural tendencies to control life, we accept help from the supernatural. What is an AHA moment? For Idleman, teaching pastor as well as author, it is that "sudden recognition that leads to an honest moment that brings lasting change." In short, it is "Awakening Honest Action." Such moments cannot be easily explained, but they can be surely be experienced. AHA for Idleman comprises three ingredients.

1. A Sudden Awakening
2. A Brutal Honesty
3. Immediate Action.

Based on the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, Idleman focuses on some of the reasons why the younger son ran away from home, giving a parallel story of Ryan who thinks about his father as someone in a distant country, uncaring, unpleasable, and unmerciful. All it takes is an AHA moment in order to turn the person around.

The first phase of AHA begins when a person comes to his senses. It can be a gambling addiction. It can be a flirtation with a long time sweetheart. When things like these happen, we need an alarm to wake us up from the slumber of sin. With the rude awakening comes the desperation, mixed with feelings of fear and dependence. This leads to the second phase where brutal honesty is required to realize one must change. This may need self honesty. This also means learning to talk to oneself openly and honesty even if it hurts. Those who are honest with self will be better equipped to be honest with others. Sometimes, it may mean seeking help from someone more mature to listen to our confessions. Otherwise, one can continue to ignore it or deny it, which will put the spanner in the works for any AHA recovery. The three strategies of self-denial are disagreement with the facts, defensiveness of the self, and the distractions we willingly submit ourselves to. This leads to projecting the problem to external sources or reasons. Eventually, when one minimizes the brutal truth, the AHA moment dies. That will not happen if the third phase is quickly adopted. This third phase is most important for it means putting resolutions to action. It must be immediate. The time to repent and recover is always now. It cannot be delayed otherwise passivity will creep in and render any recovery null and void. It tempts one to procrastinate which quickly unravels the good work done. It culminates in a state of defeatism where one surrenders to the point of saying: "It's too late now."

So What?

This book reads like a three point sermon about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Well explained and expounded, Idleman puts himself in the shoes of the younger son of the parable and draws many modern day illustrations to show readers how powerfully relevant this parable still speaks today. What the late Henri Nouwen has done for spirituality in the exposition of the Parable, Idleman has done for Christian Living using the same parable. While Nouwen has brought deeper insights of God's love as the major focus of the Parable, Idleman has enabled readers to respond as children to the love of God. Nouwen focuses on the homecoming joy, the affirmation given by God, and the God's restoration of the sonship. In contrast, Idleman focuses on the three movements of Awakening, Honest, and Action. While Nouwen is heavy on the spiritual transformation of the hearts of people, Idleman is eloquent in terms of a "moment" that results in practical actions. Here lies the biggest different between Nouwen's book and Idleman's. Nouwen's three part focus on the Younger Son, the Elder Son, and God the Father; contrasts with Idleman's three part focus on Awakening, Honest, and Action. The former marks out the book in terms of people while the latter divides the book according to actions.

Idleman's book will be easily received and appreciated. Although I personally prefer Nouwen's exposition of the Parable, this book fares quite well as far as Christian living is concerned. I warmly commend this book as another very effective way to deliver the classic parable.


Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of David C. Cook Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Start Here" (David Dwight and Nicole Unice)

TITLE: Start Here: Beginning a Relationship with Jesus
AUTHOR: David Dwight and Nicole Unice
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2013, (208 pages).

This book begins with an invitation to embrace Jesus Christ through the words of the prophet Jeremiah 29:13: "You will seek Me and find Me and search for Me with all your heart." For Christianity is not about remembering a set of rules or rituals. Neither is it a series of do's and don'ts. Christianity is a relationship that is centered on Christ. How do we actually begin our journey in this relationship? What does it take to go to where God has called us to go? How do we know where to start? Enters this book which keeps it simple and practical.

David Dwight, senior pastor of Hope Church, one of the fastest growing churches in Richmond, Virginia, shares about his early years trying to understand where to start with Bible reading. Is it on Page 1 Genesis? Can a new Christian simply begin with the first verse of the New Testament? After some help, he was asked to read the gospel of John. His co-author, Nicole Unice also grew up not knowing what being a Christian means. Unice goes on to describe her early years trying to control her life, even thinking erroneously that Christianity can be something she can control. Beginning Christianity is about beginning a relationship.

Such a confused beginning is common. Like Pete Woods, who confesses that his family are church CEO (Christmas and Easter Only) attendees, Woods only begins a stirring in his heart when he is more aware of Jesus rather than mere theories. Likewise, Josh tells of his encounter with the living Christ that sets his whole life apart. The authors then affirm the reality of Christianity being one that is personal and relational. One of the things that will affect new Christians is how they deal with obstacles along the way. Obstacles such as boredom, doubt, confusion, unresolved questions about God, and the ups and downs of relationships. Such obstacles can be farther strengthened when even Christians start to live as if the Christian faith is about rules and regulations. Relationships however is about being open, be in a posture of receiving and acknowledging the mystery of faith. Beginning a relationship is about receiving Jesus Christ into our lives. It is about having a new identity in Christ. It is about desiring to know more of God, that God is Perfect, Relational, and Sovereign. The five things about what happens when we know God are most helpful. Knowing God:

1. Changes our view of people, not to see them as temporal but eternal beings
2. Helps us face challenges differently
3. Helps us never to feel out of control, and to know God is in control
4. Helps us to remain humble and purposeful;
5. Helps us make sense of life.

Beginning our relationship with Christ also has an external outlook. It means involvement in a Church community, serving and caring for one another. It means learning to grow in the knowledge of the Bible. It means praying and praising God. This is one of the simplest books about introducing Christianity for new Christians. It does not carry a laundry lists of things to do or not do. Instead, it contains real life stories of people and parishioners that the authors have personally encountered. At the same time, the Bible references they use are there to show us how relational God is to us.

The key idea in this book is Christianity is a relationship. When we read the Bible, we are learning not just about God, but we are learning to see God more. When we pray, we are not simply just uttering a set of prayer requests. We are seeking to commune with God more. When we share the gospel, we are not simply spouting off a prepared list of things to say. We are reaching out to people, caring for them, and sharing the love of God in our words and actions. In our devotional lives, we are seeking to learn more of God and to grow to be more like God. If this book can lead you to begin a relationship with God, even though you feel far away right now, it would have worth every penny.


Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of David C. Cook and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Christians in an Age of Wealth" (Craig L. Blomberg)

TITLE: Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship (Biblical Theology for Life)
AUTHOR: Craig L. Blomberg
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013, (272 pages).

[Zondervan Special $3.99 ebook download here. Offer ends Dec 8th, 2013.]

It was 4% in the 1920s. Now, it hovers around 2%. In general, giving has gone down substantially over the years. At the same time, American spending patterns have risen astronomically with huge discretionary income allocated for "non-essential stuff" such as "pleasure boats, jewelry, booze, gambling, and candy." Craig Blomberg then takes aim at the rich Christians sector, especially those who had invested "state of the art facilities and technology" to sustain their church ministries. That is not all. The criticisms roll on:

• How is it justifiable for rich Christians to channel funds to already wealthy establishments, and not worry about the those living way below the poverty line?
• Is the Church guilty of "passing the buck" where a need is someone else's problem?
• For those who gave to the poor, how much of those giving have actually done more harm than good?
• Why must Western missionaries be paid "Western salaries" in the country they serve in?
• Why are there so many initiatives, charity, mission work, and other ministry causes duplicating one another's efforts, without even trying to coordinate their efforts? 

"How to Talk to a Skeptic" (Donald J. Johnson)

TITLE: How to Talk to a Skeptic: An Easy-to-Follow Guide for Natural Conversations and Effective Apologetics
AUTHOR: Donald J. Johnson
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis. MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013, (272 pages).

Have you ever been tongue tied when an aggressive non-Christian throws doubts at your faith? What about times in which you feel inadequate when dealing with atheists and secularists? What if you have previously gone for a class on Apologetics but have largely forgotten what the teacher had said? If you are any of the above, you are in good company. A lot of people have received training and possessed wonderful resources in addressing the tough questions regularly thrown at Christians. Whether it is the inability to recall the facts and information, or the inadequacy of responding on the fly, it is increasingly more challenging not just dealing about material but learning how to talk to skeptics. Written gently and with great understanding, Apologist Don Johnson, President of Don Johnson Evangelistic Ministries has written a very practical how-to book on learning to converse intelligently with skeptics, non-Christians, and people who simply needs someone to engage them at a level they appreciate. Basically, when engaging in any discussion, the purpose is about worldviews and truth. Johnson gives 5 reasons why tackling the subject of worldviews is most important.

1. Looking at worldviews is an excellent way to exercise rationality and to relate with the facts presented.
2. Worldviews are bigger than any single objection.
3. The honest skeptic deserves a fuller answer.
4. It is easy for anyone dealing with one objection to be quickly dealt with the next, and the next, and the next.
5. Apply burden on proof on all sides, and not just rely on the Christian to defend the faith. The skeptic will also need to defend his/her skepticism.

These form the foundation of the conversational approach advocated by Johnson. Putting it simply, the entire book is about empathizing with the skeptic; explaining the Christian faith; and finally engaging with the objections raised.