"Beyond Welcome" (Karen González)

TITLE: Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in Our Christian Response to Immigration
AUTHOR: Karen González
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2022, (176 pages).
 

With globalization, immigration and relocations are fast becoming a norm. Many immigrants uproot themselves because of commercial opportunities, jobs, family links, or simply a desire to start life afresh in a new land. Others flee for refuge because of wars and various forms of persecution. Emigrating from their original home countries is just the first part of the story. Immigrating to their new countries of choice is the second. How do they adjust to the new cultural climate? What are the expectations of them from people in their host country? Is adaptation by immigrants and acceptance by native citizens enough for cultural amalgamation? This book takes a critical look at our existing structures of welcoming new immigrants, probing the cultural challenges as well as the role of the Church. Author and professor Karen González deals with the issue of moving beyond superficial acts of welcome that often appears more as lip service. She offers a three-part approach to discuss this issue. Part One looks at "Words and Myths" that many people use, oblivious to any underlying sneaky or subconscious forms of micro-aggression. She asks questions that most people might not even think of. Are assimilation strategies just and fair? Is it right to tell immigrants to forsake their cultural background just for the sake of assimilation? How can words alone become a barrier to true welcome? What about the myth of the "good immigrant?" This book essentially challenges this deeply-held belief. In a passionate pushback against many such "norms," author Karen Gonzalez says that welcoming foreign immigrants needs to go beyond expectations of cultural conformance as well as the myths of the "good immigrant." She makes us ponder on biblical relevance, especially on the distinction between "good" and "bad" immigrants. We cannot depend only on immigrants to change. Hosts and natives need to learn the cross-cultural differences too! One of the key instruments is language. As the saying goes: "It takes two to tango," society will be a lot closer and friendlier if everyone can do their part to build bridges. Gonzalez gives a powerful example of how she connected with Russian speakers by trying to speak using her limited Russian knowledge. Words carry significant meaning, and the author shows us that words can heal as well as hurt. 

"Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task" (Daniel Overdorf)

TITLE: Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task
AUTHOR: Daniel Overdorf
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2022, (pages).

Preaching is one of the most challenging tasks for those of us in ministry. That is why many seminaries teach students about the science and art of preaching. The curriculum includes practice sessions to incorporate academic learning with actual practice. Unfortunately, it is another challenge altogether to help students bridge theory with practice. If there is something in-between, like a simple framework to remember, that will help students of preaching. Recognizing a need for a simple framework for beginner students of preaching, author Daniel Overdorf has written a simpler approach to preparing and deliver sermons. There is a total of eight steps:

1. Conviction about Preaching the Word
2. Researching the Text
3. Focusing on the Single Idea
4. Shaping the flow of thought
5. Developing each segment
6. Bookend with Introduction and Conclusion
7. Polish with descriptive language
8. Embody the sermon

"When Children Come Out" (Mark A. Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets)

TITLE: When Children Come Out: A Guide for Christian Parents
AUTHOR: Mark A. Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (193 pages).
 

Activists hold annual parades to celebrate their sexual orientation. Politicians flaunt their support to garner votes. Many organizations have also enshrined gender equality for all forms of self-identified sexualities. For all the public acceptance, there are still some in the private sphere who are more reserved. For various reasons, there are issues surrounding sexual orientations that individual families and communities need to grapple with. One of the most challenging situations have to deal with conservative parents whose children confess their homosexual orientations, same-sex attractions, or the umbrella term LGBTQ+. This is popularly known as "coming out." Thus the title of this book is essentially about journeying with parents, especially conservative ones, in such situations. How do we nuance our understanding of sexuality without compromising on our biblical faith? How do we communicate such sensitive topics? How do we deal with the experiences from the stage of awareness to the stage of discovery or disclosure? Based on statistical studies as well as personal interviews, authors Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets have written this book to guide parents through these stages to facilitate dialogue and mutual understanding. Two parallel journeys are of interest. One of the parents and the other of the child coming out. The focus of this book is on the former. The authors walk us through the process of awareness; seeking help; maintaining the relationship; impact on faith; and how parents can come to terms with reality. Toward the end of the book, there is a chapter about how the Church can help. 

"The Church After Innovation" (Andrew Root)

TITLE: Church After Innovation: Questioning Our Obsession with Work, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (Ministry in a Secular Age)
AUTHOR: Andrew Root
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (272 pages).
 

Each year, Apple enthusiasts celebrate the latest new iPhone. Software gets upgraded with more features that are better, faster, and more powerful than the previous generation. The old gets replaced by the new. It is a modern phenomenon that many of us are used to. Just like the Olympics where the prize goes to the fastest, tallest, or most able achievements, life, in general, seems to be heading toward the modern belief that the "latest and the greatest" are deemed better than the previous generation. CS Lewis once calls it "Chronological snobbery." In this book, author Andrew Root looks at how such a philosophy has engulfed the Church at large. He probes the nature of innovation and entrepreneurship asking questions about the history, the underlying philosophies, and its influence on the Church. The basic question in this book is: "Is the Church influencing the world more than the world of innovation influencing the Church?" He points to the latter and calls the modern Church having an "ecclesial obsession" with all things innovation. Thus the title of this book looks at what would happen if the church uncritically embraced innovation in all of its ministries. The author engages a host of philosophical thoughts from Meister Eckhart, John Tauler, Theologia Germanica, Michel Foucault, Andreas Reckwitz,  Friedrich Hölderlin, and others. Root raises the question of how similar the Church is with companies like Applebees's where innovation is crucial to survival. While it is one thing to hear from just one Church, it is yet another to notice how pervasive that philosophy is. He notes how one Church tried innovation with great success in the first year only to fizzle out the year after. His key assertion is that the Church should not confuse ministry innovation with her real mission. 

"Mouth of the Donkey" (Laura Duhan-Kaplan)

TITLE: Mouth of the Donkey: Re-imagining Biblical Animals
AUTHOR: Laura Duhan-Kaplan
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021, (94 days).
 

Children are often fascinated with animals. They ask interesting questions like, "What does this animal eat?" "If this animal fights against the leopard, will it win?" "Will the deer outrun the tiger?" For Sunday School teachers and those teaching children in churches, animals in the Bible often bring out curiosity in kids. That is why animal narratives in the Bible are some of the most popular stories to tell little children. They paint Noah's Ark with glee. They imagine pairs of animals living inside the ark. They participate in plays that reenact Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. Even the Old Testament prophecies give us images of sheep, lambs, wolves, and many others. Animals are not just the domain of children. Adults too sing the classic hymn, "All Creatures of our Lord and King," as well as the popular choruses, "As the Deer" and "Lion of Judah." How do we interpret the use of animals in the Bible? According to author and professor, Laura Duhan-Kaplan, she adopts a four-level interpretation based on Kabbalistic teachings. 

1. Plain literal (peshat)
2. Exposition of recurring ethical themes (derash)
3. Allegorical (remez)
4. Secret allusions to God's nature (sod)

"The Book of Boundaries" (Melissa Urban)

TITLE: The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free
AUTHOR: Melissa Urban
PUBLISHER: Toronto, ON: Penguin Random House Canada, 2022, (368 pages).
 

Some of the most catchy statements about limits and boundaries come from commercials. One warns about driving under intoxication: "If you drink, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink." Another cautions us about the dangers of gambling: "Know your limits. Stay within it." If we look beyond these two social ills, we soon realize that limits apply to a broader sphere of life. That includes our personal and social boundaries. What are boundaries? How do we create healthy boundaries? Why do we need boundaries in the first place? What are the benefits of establishing boundaries? Author Melissa Urban is popularly known as the "boundary lady on Instagram." she shares how she boldly draws boundaries by expressing no to business proposals; limiting any interference on her parenting styles; telling friends where are the no-go zones; and even learning to be assertive with one's spouse. These are just examples of how boundaries can help us and others know, respect, and appreciate why we set boundaries. Healthy engagement needs healthy boundaries. Such boundaries are not there to control people's involvement but to communicate expectations. This is important lest people misunderstand the purpose. Before the author launches into the book, she shares her story of how boundaries saved her. Soon she discovers that it not only sets proper limits in her relationships, she feels free to thrive and help others thrive. 

"Confronting Jesus" (Rebecca McLaughlin)

TITLE: Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels
AUTHOR: Rebecca McLaughlin
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (208 pages).

If you have enjoyed the author's first book, "Confronting Christianity," this is essentially the sequel. Her first book provides credible arguments to deal with 12 roadblocks. This sequel deals with 9 encounters with Jesus. Recognizing how so many people in society reject Jesus without even knowing the content of the gospels, McLaughlin does the heavy lifting to summarize the life of Jesus from nine angles. Taking inspiration from all four gospels, she tells the story of Jesus in a manner like a stage musical. The nine encounters are in seeing:

1. Jesus the Jew
2. Jesus the Son
3. Jesus the King
4. Jesus the Healer
5. Jesus the Teacher
6. Jesus the Lover
7. Jesus the Servant
8. Jesus the Sacrifice
9. Jesus the Lord

"5 Minute Prayers Around the Advent Wreath" (Lisa M. Hendey)

TITLE: 5 Minute Prayers Around the Advent Wreath
AUTHOR: Lisa M. Hendey
PUBLISHER: Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2022, (64 pages).
 

Advent is fast approaching. Derived from the Latin word "adventus," the word "Advent" literally means "coming" or "arriving." Christians in general believe in a dual emphasis in this coming of Jesus. Advent is an opportunity to look back with gratitude for the coming of Jesus as narrated in the gospels. It is also a sign to anticipate the second coming of Jesus. How then do we observe the Advent? By praying around the Advent Wreath. Written intentionally for busy people, it keeps each prayer to about five minutes so that even the busiest people would be willing to pause and reflect on the message of the Advent. Author Lisa Hendley spends some time explaining what the Advent Wreath is about, its origins, its shape, and the use of candles around the wreath. While there are many variations, the traditional use among some mainstream denominations would use three purple, one pink, and one white to represent a particular word. Each day begins with a lighting of a candle followed by a time for silent prayer. Readers are invited to sing a verse from the popular hymn, "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Following that is a reading of Scripture which should help one to pause and reflect as one meditates on the verses. Then there is a brief exhortation or encouragement to think and to ponder upon the verses in relation to life in this world. We are then invited to ask two common questions daily:

"1 Peter" (Karen H. Jobes)

TITLE: 1 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)
AUTHOR: Karen H. Jobes
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (400 pages).
 

Stand firm in the faith! This is the chorus repeated throughout the letter of 1 Peter. Written to a people scattered throughout many different provinces in Asia Minor, this is one of the most powerful letters of encouragement to persecuted groups of believers. Many of the early believers did not have the kind of freedom many of us currently enjoy. There are themes of faith during persecution; living as resident aliens; suffering for the faith; seeing God as Trinity; salvation; end times; and more. Author Karen Jobes helps us not only to understand the themes but more importantly, the contexts to illuminate our understanding of these themes. We read about date and authorship; intended audiences; origins; lexical considerations; sources; the impact of Roman colonization; theological flow; and more. With clearly marked outlines, Jobes systematically deals with the text on a thought-by-thought manner. Many sources were consulted before she gives us her own contribution. There are three unique features in this commentary. 

1. Audience: That the letter was written not to indigenous believers but to the diaspora displaced from other places such as Rome;
2. Sources: Using the Septuagint (LXX) to facilitate a greater understanding of the contextual background;
3. Original Language: The original text might not necessarily be Greek. Instead, it could very well be one who was well-versed in the Semitic language other than Greek.