"Following" (Jason Byassee and Andria Irwin)

TITLE: Following (Pastoring for Life: Theological Wisdom for Ministering Well)
AUTHOR: Jason Byassee and Andria Irwin
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (208 pages).
 

Even with technological advances, there is almost always a constant divide between two poles. There are the Technological Luddites and the Technophiles. There are the modernists and the mystics. In a digital age, there are digital immigrants and digital natives. These are some of the distinctions between the old and the new forms of thinking. In a book written by a digital immigrant (Byassee) and a digital native (Irwin), we get a fascinating conversation about what discipleship means in a digital age. While getting online is easy, discerning what is going on is not so straightforward. In the area of discipleship, learning how to discern is increasingly important as many Christians go online and interact more on the Internet. Theologically, one of the biggest heresies throughout history was Gnosticism. This heresy is basically about dualistic views of life, seeing earthly things as evil and heavenly things as good. Salvation is thus a matter of running away from this world into the real good one. It is still occurring today to fuel any inclination toward escapism especially in times of trouble. Closely related to Gnosticism is Manicheism, something that had influenced St Augustine in his earlier days. This heresy is not as extreme as Gnosticism but still retains semblances of Gnostic beliefs into seeing some things as good and some things as evil. The Truth is, God has created creation as good, and right theology needs to discern what is good and fallen, against what the heresies claimed as inherently or naturally evil. The authors here seek to find a balance between the two heresies so as to make sense of what is theologically true and coherent with the human experience. In an age where the online environment is threatening to pull people toward any heretical extremes, they urge readers to learn to refrain, to restrain, and to rest from constant online engagement, without jettisoning the usefulness of technology. They also show us how to discern what are the things that can and cannot be done online. One of the key questions posed is:  "How might we use technology, perhaps despite its intentions, to trick ourselves into a more embodied life of discipleship?"

"7 Ways to Pray" (Amy Boucher Pye)

TITLE: 7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices for Encountering God
AUTHOR: Amy Boucher Pye
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (192 pages)

Christianity is a relationship. Like any relationship, it needs regular communication. Prayer is that spiritual conversation that reflects the ongoing relationship between God and us. For most people, praying is simply asking for things when one is in need or seeking help when one is in trouble. Such a strategy comes from a Santa Claus theology of prayer, turning prayer into some kind of a spiritual invocation for a physical requisition. What if we move away from such a conventional manner of praying? What if we do less of asking for things and more of desiring God? If God is All-Knowing, surely He already knows all that we need. That being the case, our prayer life should orientate in a different way. Author Amy Boucher Pye offers us seven ways to pray. Using the wisdom of the spiritual masters of old, Pye leads us along seven paths of prayer. They are:

1. Letting Scripture Guide our Praying
2. Using the Lectio Divina
3. Practicing the Presence of God
4. Listening
5. Lamenting
6. Imagining
7. Remembering

"The Local Church" (Edward W. Klink III)

TITLE: The Local Church: What It Is and Why It Matters for Every Christian
AUTHOR: Edward W. Klink III
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2021, (176 pages).
 

The Church has been around for over 2000 years since the beginning of the first century. Despite the great persecution and martyrdom of many, the Church has not only survived, she has thrived. From a small community in Jerusalem, Christianity has also spread to many parts of the world.  With growth comes diversity; with diversity, disagreements; and with disagreements, conflicts. This is the inevitable part of living together, made worse by politicking and various forms of power plays by different groups within and without. In the midst of heated conflicts, people tend to forget what is the meaning of Church and what they ought to stand for. Doctrines, theologies, and biblical principles become secondary while personal interpretations of what is right and wrong become primary concerns. The trouble worsens when worldly perspectives color such primary concerns. In order to made the local Church faithful to the Truth of the Word of God, we need to be constantly reminded about what the Church is and why it matters for every Christian. This is where Edward Klink's book comes in. Written as a catechesis for learning what Church is, Klink offers us five fundamental questions:

"Aging Faithfully" (Alice Fryling)

TITLE: Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older
AUTHOR: Alice Fryling
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (192 pages).
 

Many parts of the developed world are encountering the graying phenomenon. As the average life expectancy increases, there will be greater demands on healthcare, medical insurance, and the social safety net. Countries in North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and many other developed countries constantly grapple with how current welfare infrastructure could be sustained into the future. On top of the social and economic challenges, there are also mental health issues that need to be addressed. Already, Covid-19 has wrecked many families who have lost loved ones in the vulnerable elderly age bracket. The central question in this book is this: How do we age faithfully? Author Alice Fryling starts off with some observations on how society view aging in general. The topic of aging tends to be discussed theoretically when we are in our 50s. When in our 60s, we begin to feel the symptoms of aging. In our 70s, we are forced to finally acknowledge that our bodies can no longer catch up with our mental wills. Beyond 80s, we would be facing increasingly significant physical and mental challenges, assuming we didn't get sick in the first place. Fryling affirms that even when we age, we can live with a purpose: "To understand the uniqueness, the complexities, the needs, and the potential" of our souls as we journey toward old age. 

"40 Questions About Roman Catholicism" (Gregg R. Allison)

TITLE: 40 Questions About Roman Catholicism
AUTHOR: Gregg R. Allison
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (336 pages).

What do Roman Catholics believe? How do Protestants view the Roman Catholic Church and its beliefs? How can evangelicals relate to Roman Catholic believers? What is the history of the Roman Catholic Church? These questions and many more form the basis for this book. Continuing the topical series of 40 questions, Kregel Publications has decided to focus this book on some of the common questions about Roman Catholicism. 

Roman Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the world. From time to time, we hear of powerful leaders and famous figures who hail from the Roman Catholic Church. The current President of the United States and Prime Minister of Canada are all Roman Catholics. Stars like Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, Liam Neeson, and Stephen Colbert are all Roman Catholics. Wherever the Pope goes, the press and media follow along. 

The three categories of questions are:

1. Historical and Foundational Matters
2. Theological Matters
3. Contemporary and Personal Matters

"When Words matter Most" (Cheryl Marshall and Caroline Newheiser)

TITLE: When Words Matter Most: Speaking Truth with Grace to Those You Love
AUTHOR: Cheryl Marshall and Caroline Newheiser
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021, (224 pages).
 

Jesus has said that we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set us free. This is in the context of God's Word, to abide in Jesus, and to follow Him. In a world that has been devastated by the coronavirus, many are not only struggling with basic needs, but they also needed a greater dose of human interaction and encouragement. Words matter and they matter even more in times of need. With many stories of how different people have impacted them, authors Marshall and Newheiser share with us stories of how family, friends, and fellow believers had blessed them with hope, strength, and faith. There was a mother of five who gave them a friendship anchored on transparency and unconditional love. There was a teacher with a servant's heart who engages them with Truth and loyalty. There was also one with a pillar of faith that even in the midst of difficulties, one can exuberate joy in service. Calling these people gifts, they share with us how in times of acute need, these people were there for them. With gratitude, the authors are expanding their scope of encouragement through this book of stories and Truth-Telling about how words can make a difference, especially during this pandemic. Written in two parts, Part One explains the impact of words, and how the Word of God reminds us about our calling to speak words of Truth to one another, especially in crucial moments we discerned in the Spirit. We are called to build up the body not with our human wisdom but with the counsel of God through His Word. We are given three goals when we interact with one another:

"Parenting Generation Screen" (Jonathan McKee)

TITLE: Parenting Generation Screen: Guiding Your Kids to Be Wise in a Digital World
AUTHOR: Jonathan McKee
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (208 pages).

Did you know that 10 is the average age a kid gets a phone in America? Did you know that the most common reason why parents give kids a smartphone so early is to anticipate emergencies? By the time a kid turns 13, nearly three-quarters of his contemporaries would already have a phone with a screen. How do you parent a young child in a smartphone era? Experts have said that parents ought to wait until kids are older and more mature before giving them the phones. Many caved in to their children's pleas while others simply do not know how to respond to the demand tsunami. Sadly, this has led to uncontrolled and unlimited use of the smartphones by children totally oblivious to the dangers of the Internet. So the key question for parents is this: What are we going to do? Author Jonathan McKee begins by cautioning us not to look for quick fixes. Instead, develop a connection with our kids before correction. Love needs to come before limits; bonding before boundaries; and communication before commandments. Urging us to pause before confiscating the devices, begin with conversation with our kids. That means learning not just to express our concerns but also to understand what our kids are going through. Then there is the question of what age is best to give our kids smartphones. With peer pressure and the torrent of requests, parents will find it increasingly difficult to deny this request. Plus, screen gadgets nowadays are everywhere. They are in computers, laptops, tablets, small gadgets, TV screens, and even in vehicles! If we say no to one, how do we consistently maintain our stance for the others? Perhaps, it is more important to show kids the reasons and the thinking process instead of plainly a yes or a no answer. We have heard scientific evidence about kids staying up late at night and how screens stimulate their brain activity. This in turn affects our children's mental health and sleep patterns which could lead to depression and emotional problems. Then there is social media and the seductive attraction to fame, game, and all kinds of exposure, including illicit ones.