"On Reading Well" (Karen Swallow Prior)

TITLE: On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books
AUTHOR: Karen Swallow Prior
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2018, (272 pages).

For many people, reading can be a great pastime. Students read for learning, but more often than not, do so in order to pass their courses. Professors read in order to teach. Researchers read in order to build their reserviour of knowledge and bibliographical resources. Many teachers also encourage their students not just to read but to read widely. What about reading slowly and intently? What does it mean to read well? What if reading could change our lives? What if reading well means living well, or vice versa? These questions help us address the fundamental purposes of reading and living. According to author Karen Swallow Prior, "reading well is, in itself, an act of virtue, or excellence, and it is also a habit that cultivates more virtue in return." That is more than a mouthful. It is specifically reading with a virtuous purpose in mind and a holistic relevance to life. Prior shows us how through the categories of the cardinal, theological, and heavenly virtues. We learn many different insights about reading well:

• Reading well is about learning how to think
• Reading slowly leads to deep and meaningful reading
• Speed reading leads to "superficial knowledge and overconfidence."
• Read virtuously by being faithful to both text and context
• Read and enjoy
• Read and be formed in our thinking
• Read toward human flourishing
• Reading fosters virtues and vision
• Reading offers greater perspectives
• ... and so on

"The Shack" Movie Review

TITLE: THE SHACK MOVIE
AUTHOR: William P Young
PRODUCER: LionsGate
CAST: The film stars Sam Worthington (Avatar, Wrath of the Titans, Clash of the Titans), Academy Award®-winner Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress, 2012 –The Help; The Divergent Series film franchise), Grammy Award® Winner Tim McGraw (The Blind Side), Radha Mitchell (Olympus Has Fallen), Alice Braga (Queen of the South, Elysium), Aviv Alush (The Gordin Cell) and Graham Greene (Longmire). The screenplay by John Fusco is based on the best-selling faith-based book, “The Shack,” by William Paul Young in collaboration with Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings. Stuart Hazeldine (Exam) directs the film, which is produced by the Oscar-nominated Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side, Marley & Me) and Brad Cummings.

This movie is based on the bestselling book of the same name, written by author William Paul Young. You can read the brief synopsis from the official resource page here. That would help readers who have not read the book to get a gist of the story.

I watched the preview on Wednesday evening, thanks to the gracious invitation of Graf-Martin Communications. Right from the start, we were asked to be prepared to shed tears. A Kleenex box was also provided for those who needed it. We were shown a brief video from one of the show's advocates, followed by a 2 hours and 12 minutes of heart-gripping story telling about God, the struggle of man with the issue of pain and suffering. and many theological matters that the Christian would be familiar with. Some of the themes include:

• Justice and Love
• Pain and Suffering
• The Trinity
• The Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
• Freedom and grace
• Forgiveness
• Family
• Tragedy and Grace
• New creation
• Visions of heaven
• Wisdom 
• Human limitations
• ... and many more

"How to Read Water" (Tristan Gooley)

TITLE: How to Read Water: Clues and Patterns from Puddles to the Sea
AUTHOR: Tristan Gooley
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: The Experiment, 2016, (368 pages).

Water is everywhere around us. They are visible in the clouds and the rains; the rivers and the streams; the lakes and the oceans. We use it to hydrate our gardens; to cook our meals; to wash our premises; and many other aspects of life. Just as water has many uses, if we take the time to consider what we are looking for, water can be interpreted in both philosophical as well as practical ways. Rather than to reduce it to the level of meaning only according to the eyes of the beholder, the author believes that with wisdom and intuition, there is more to water than the physical images that meet the eye. Several things move Tristan Gooley on her quest for discovering the meaning of water. First, knowing how to read the clues in puddles and streams can give us a good idea of what it happening underneath them. Second, it is easier to learn about water when our feet is on firm ground. Third, reading water is a unique navigational skill. Four, there is a mystery about water that can deepen the wonder and appreciation of this precious resource.

Movie Review: "Heaven is For Real"

PRESENTED BY: Sony Pictures
DIRECTOR: Randall Wallace
PRODUCER: Joe Roth, T.D. Jakes
SCREENPLAY: Randall Wallace, Christopher Parker
CAST: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum, Margo Martindale, and Thomas Haden Church

Today is the official release of the movie, "Heaven is for Real." Based on the book by Todd Burpo, it is a story of earthly faith with heavenly hope about the Burpo family, whose lives have been changed by one miraculous experience of a three year old boy, Colton Burpo. Now made into a movie, the story comes alive with superb acting and quality footage.


Watch the trailer here.





You can read my full review here.


conrade

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"God is Able" (Priscilla Shirer) [*Giveaway Offer]

TITLE: God is Able
AUTHOR: Priscilla Shirer
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2013, (166 pages).

[* The publisher has kindly made available a free giveaway. Just make a comment on this blog with your email contact to enter the draw. Note that giveaways are limited to US and Canada residents only.]

A song commonly taught to children goes like this:

"He's Able. He's Able. I know He's Able.
I know my God is Able to carry me through.

He healed the broken-hearted
And set the captive free.
He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see."

As children learns this words through music, adults learn the meaning through life. Sharing about her broken heart, her marital struggles, her worry over bearing a child, her tussle with guilt and regret, salvaging a friendship, and doubts about her place in ministry, popular speaker Priscilla Shirer has written another inspiring feel-good book about living victoriously in God. It is about being able to be confident more in God who is able to carry us through anything. She puts together the testimonies of how the impossible became suddenly possible. Like the husband of a friend who repented before God, after leaving his wife; how God healed a nine-year-old boy of his brain tumour; and how a stranger from Singapore paid for all five family members to travel halfway round the world and back! The book is written using alliteration with the letter T.  In eight chapters, Shirer tries to convince readers that God is able in at least eight ways.

First, the Time to believe and to set things in motion is now. Ephesians 3:20-21 contains promises that believers can practice immediately. There is no better time than "now" to be connected to God. Whatever the challenges, whatever the doubts, whatever the constraints we face, with God, there is always hope.

Second, any journey of hope needs to begin with a Turning to God. Continuing her meditation on Ephesians 3:20, the words "unto Him" is about turning away from the things of the world toward God. This means that we need to turn away from ourselves as well, to trust that God knows best. Like the Old Testament spies of Israel who managed to read the signs correctly when they adopt the eyes of faith; or when Mary Magdalene wept at the empty tomb, only to find Jesus looking for her instead. When we turn to God, we turn to a God who is powerful and able.

Third, Truth keeps us firm footed on facts and faith. It is when we know God is true, we can place our trust amid the seemingly unending series of problems and disappointments. God's Omnipotence is truth.

Fourth, earthly things do not last, which is why we need to keep our eye on the Transcendence of God. Even as the issues of this world try to nail us down in despair, the hope in God can lift us way beyond what our earthly senses tell us. God is eternal. God's grace is exceedingly abundant. God's will is abundantly better than anything the world can give.

Fifth, Totality means all the way, not just half or part of the way. When God loves us, God loves us all the way. Everything we know, everything we have, and everything we do, we cannot outknow God, outpossess God, or outdo God.

Sixth, Turbo reminds us that God's power is exceeding great, that even death cannot hold Him. This power is within us, simply because God is with us. This power works within us and is meant for us to use it as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Seventh, Tribute is about giving thanks, honour, praise, and glory, to God and God alone. It is that perfect circle that what begins and belongs to God, goes back to God and God alone. The more we realize that all we have and do are all in the grace of God, the more we can become thankful that we praise God from whom all blessings flow. I like the analogy of the football stadium where many people clamour to get into the stadium in order to get a peek at the game. When the glory of God resides in one place, people from all over will clamour to get a glimpse of God's presence.

Finally, Telling It represents our response to all of the preceding seven things about "God is Able."

So What?

Priscilla Shirer has a communications style that is both captivating and concise. Going through all the eight points based on her exposition of Ephesians 3:20-21, readers are invited to sit and meditate on this precious verse, just to get a better sense of who God is and what God is able to do. In our modern world, we multitask a lot of things. We train ourselves to manage our schedules. We try to keep our own lives in order. Often, we stumble or fumble through our feeble attempts, and only at the most desperate moments, we come to God. We plead with God. We realize our human attempts are nothing compared to the overwhelming ability of God. Sometimes, we learn things the hard way, that we have to fall down and hurt ourselves first when we ignore the guiding hands of God. Shirer lets the Word of God be the hand that we can hang on to. Knowing God is able is not enough. We need to let that knowledge come forth in our daily lives. It takes our awareness of eternity in order to appreciate the timeliness of God's purpose and the timelessness of God's plan. We need to be humbled in order to turn back to God in submission and surrender. We need to be reminded all over again that God's Truth is the only Truth that matters. We need to be lifted above our measly human concerns to see the bigger picture of God's universe. We can take comfort that even when we know in part, God knows the whole. Thus, we can trust God more for He sees more things than we can see. Why then do we behave as if we know better than God?

All of these add up to give us many reasons why our response to God is to worship God and to make God known widely. God is able not because any book, any author, or any teacher says so. God is able because he IS so.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

p/s: note that this post comes with a giveaway. If you like to participate in this giveaway, just send me an email or make a comment on this post. I'll get back to you by December 15th, 2013 if your entry has been selected. Note that the giveaway is limited to residents in the continental United States and Canada. All decision made is final.

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

"Praying the Prayers of the Bible" (James Banks)

TITLE: Praying the Prayers of the Bible
AUTHOR: James Banks
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2013, (240 pages).

The Bible is often studied and analyzed by Church groups and many Christian communities. From character studies to theological treatises, from word exegesis to thematic references, the Bible has become the sole bread and butter of everything Christianity. One of the ways that the Bible has so richly informed the Christian community is the prayers in the Bible itself. Whether it is from the Old Testament or the New Testament, it is very easy to find references to prayer in the sacred Scriptures. According to James Banks, we have much to learn from just the prayers of the Bible themselves. We can learn how Moses, Job, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Mary, Peter, Paul, and many others pray to God. The advantages are many. We learn to stay faithful to the biblical text. We learn to pray the way that the biblical men and women of old have done. More importantly, because the prayers are so God-focused, and so natural to the human being, it is a worthwhile discipline for anyone following Jesus to learn to pray the prayers of the Bible. James Banks teach us how in this book.

The objective is simple. Make the prayers of the Bible our own. There are 9 themes that the prayers are organized under.

1. For praising and honoring God;
2. For Thanksgiving;
3. For Faith;
4. For Needs;
5. For Confession and Humility;
6. For guidance and direction;
7. For Help and Protection;
8. For Everyday Struggles;
9. For Blessings.

Each theme has a "prayer starter" for those who want a quick entry into the prayer. It also has a longer description for anyone desiring to probe a little deeper. Banks guides readers along. In fact, Banks urges readers to go beyond just remaining in any one category, but to immerse themselves widely in various categories. Believing that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for holy living, readers are encouraged to go deep and wide, and to pray and to bask in the presence of God as they utter the words of Scripture. There is no limit to what one can do with the prayers, simply because the prayers point one toward the Eternal and Everlasting God, Boundless, Limitless, and full of glory and grace.

Dr Banks is well qualified to share with us his experiences, having led many groups in prayer retreats, written books, as well as being involved in pastoral work. Through this book, readers from other parts of the world is able to benefit from the ministry of Banks.

My Thoughts

Use this book as a guide to praying, but do not limit yourself to what Banks is saying. Let the Spirit of God lead you to pray and also to come up with your own prayers, with the Bible as a guide. The more we pray, the more we learn. The more we learn to pray, the more we become creative in our praying. The book provides the biblical texts so that readers can use them straightaway. The main problem with books like these is always context. When we pull out verses from the Bible, we risk taking the texts out of contexts. While I am happy to recommend this book for general reference and earnest praying, I will encourage readers not to stop there, but to open up the Bible for themselves. Perhaps, let the selected verses be entries to reading and praying through whole passages, leading toward whole books, and even large chunks of Scripture.

If this book can encourage readers to desire more after God, and to study the Bible more for themselves and their communities, it will have worth every single penny for the price of the book.


Rating: 4 stars of 5.


conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Discovery House Publishers and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Charts on the Book of Hebrews" (Herbert Bateman IV)

TITLE: Charts on the Book of Hebrews (Kregel Charts of the Bible and Theology)
AUTHOR: Herbet Bateman IV
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2012, (272 pages).

This book brings together a host of scholarship material and sources in the form of visual charts. Easily accessible and clear, Bateman distills into a small book what many researchers, pastors, teachers, scholars, and theologians will need hours and large resources to discover. Written in four parts, Bateman brings together a wide variety of scholarship through history to bring us an easy and convenient reference rolled into one volume. Part One considers the introductory information surrounding Hebrews. There are lots of information with regards to the sources and authorship of the ancient book of Hebrews. There is a historical spread from the ancient Church fathers, theologians, scholars, and leaders through the centuries, to modern critical scholarship. In just a few pages, readers are treated to a breathtaking view of perspectives through the centuries. Just on authorship alone, the many viewpoints on who wrote the book of Hebrews provide a glimpse into the complexities and difficulties of determining with any scientific accuracy the originators of the book. Some say Paul while others say Barnabas, or another of Jesus' disciples. Some even mention Mary and Clement of Syria as possible authors! Even modern commentators are not in agreement about it. This is why many modern Bible commentaries on Hebrews will indicate "unknown" as a better way to answer the authorship question. The genre and structure of Hebrews are highlighted with ample references and explanation of the different viewpoints. Of lesser dispute is the destination of Hebrews where most of the scholarship agree that it is Rome. That said, the other possible destinations are Colossae, Antioch, or simply unknown. Generally, it is agreed that Jewish Christians are the primary audience of the book of Hebrews.

Part Two goes deeper into the content of Hebrews, providing helpful references to Old Testament allusions, Jewish cultic practices and rituals, priesthood, and many Messianic figures mentioned in Hebrews.  There are dating considerations. This section is important, espcially for non-Jewish readers because the book of Hebrews can be better appreciated if one understands the Jewish practices of old first.

Part Three highlights the differente views of the theologies in Hebrews. It focuses on the Person of Jesus, suggests how Hebrews paint the portraits of God, each with biblical references. It points out the different characteristics of Jesus and how the Triune Godhead works together to sustain creation, radiate God's glory, how God guides, and many more. There are constant parallels between Hebrews and the Old Testament to cement the tight relationship between the testaments. Jesus is wisdom. The Word of God is wisdom. God is wisdom. Of particular interest is how Hebrews refers to Jesus through many different titles, royal, priestly, and messianic.  There are also non-regal as well as divine titles.

Part Four will be of particular interest to students of exegesis and word study interest. Reading like a concordance in many ways, the various biblical texts and translations are carefully compared and contrasted.  It does to Hebrews what Burton Throckmorton has done to the synoptic gospels. While Throckmorton has compared the synoptic gospels side by side, Bateman compares the Hebrew text side by side with the Septuagint and the relevant Old and New Testament texts. However, there is a slight difference. Bateman leaves the reader to do most of the reading and interpretation. In fact, the book is basically there to highlight the nuances of the text, as well as the different perspectives through the ages. The reader needs to do the interpretation, and the application of the text. The figures of speech tables show us how important it is to understand the symbolic nature of much of the language in Hebrews. Addressing this step well is key to applying the text.

Hebrews is not an easy book to study, let alone understand the plain reading of it. There are lots of background information that the modern layperson or the casual reader will miss out. This book is an exegetical swiss knife to understand the background, the symbols, the history, the theology, and many aspects of Hebrews. It lists down ready references for students to use as a primer in Hebrew studies. It is also a quick reference for pastors and teachers to use in their powerpoint slides or preaching outlines. What I appreciate most is how Bateman has concisely put complex information into simple tables and charts for ease of reading and appreciation of the complexity when studying the book of Hebrews. With this book, no one should be afraid to study Hebrews. In fact, this book will empower any interested reader to learn more and to appreciate Hebrews even more.

If you are a pastor, professor, scholar, researcher, or Bible teacher, this book is certainly a must have as part of your biblical resource.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Kregel Academic without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Taste and See" (Annabel Robinson)

TITLE: Taste and See: An invitation to read the Bible
AUTHOR: Annabel Robinson
PUBLISHER: Pickering, ON: Scripture Union Canada, 2012, (52 pages).

This book is a mini-introduction to selected portions of the Bible. It provides some interesting content for readers to "taste" first, and subsequently "see" for themselves the beauty, the power, and the application of Scripture in everyday life. Comprising 12 brief stories, of which 5 are from the Old Testament and 7 from the New Testament, the author first presents and overview of each Bible story. The "Way In" is to ask some relevant questions for the contemporary reader. The context and the background is then presented, followed by some exploration of the characters, the plot, and the story. Finally, the reader is invited to ask questions of both what they have read, and how it can be applied to everyday living.

This is a book written for people who have absolutely no idea of what the Bible is all about. The publisher continues to try and promote the habit of regular Bible reading for all groups. This book is aimed at the newbie, or those who are unfamiliar with what the Bible is all about. Often in society, people talk about the Bible without really engaging the contexts and the contents of the Bible. This is most unfortunate. Without knowing what the Bible says, we can easily misunderstand and misinterpret the words of others. The big is short enough for readers to read. Given the small footprint, the e-edition is most appropriate for ereaders, our Kindles, or our mobile electronic readers. The book is more a taste of the main thing. The main thing is still the Bible itself. If this book can encourage and inspire readers to read more of the Bible, it will have been worth the price of the book.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Canadian Bible Society and Graf-Martin Communications without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

My Top Books for 2012

A YEAR END REVIEW FOR 2012

It has come to another year of reviewing my reviews. This year is a record feat since the start of this book blog. It is also a record for the number of publishers that have been sending me their newest books for reviews. At the point of writing, I have published about 211 reviews for 2012 alone. Like most reviewers, trying to decide which book is best for each category is really difficult. In fact, if I am to re-do the list a few days later, I may even make more changes. That said, the books below have made some impact on my life. Many of them, I have shared with my Church and my friends through social media as well as personal communications. There are many more on this blog that you are free to browse through. Links have been conveniently provided for you to read.

Thanks again to all the wonderful publishers who have provided me the resources to do what I love. To read deeply and widely, and to promote the habit of reading more deeply and widely.

CATEGORY	#1	#2
Apologetics	Christian Apologetics	Cold-Case Christianity
Biblical Studies	Understanding Biblical Theology	Invitation to Biblical Interpretation
Church	Center Church	Deep and Wide
Devotional	Invitations from God (Adele Calhoun)	Devotions from the Greek NT
Discipleship	A Thicker Jesus (Glen H. Stassen)	Multiply (Francis Chan)
Evangelism & Mission	King Jesus Gospel (Scot McKnight)	Organic Outreach for Churches (Kevin G. Harney)
Marriage	The Meaning of Marriage (Tim Keller)	Renovating Your Marriage Room by Room (Johnny C. Parker, Jr)
Leadership	Dangerous Calling (Paul David Tripp)	Leadership Excellence (Pat Williams)
Prayer	The Circle Maker (Mark Batterson)	Prayers for Today (Kurt Bjorklund)
Spiritual Formation	Holy Nomad (Matt Litton)	Faithmapping (Daniel Montgomery/Mike Cosper)
Spirituality	Fresh Air (Jack Levison)	Acceptable Words (Gary Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, eds)
Miscellaneous	Toxic Charity (Robert Lupton)	Endowed by Our Creator (Michael Meyerson)

conrade

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Many of the books above are provided to me free by their respective publishers and authors in exchange for an honest review. Without them, there will be no such blog. 

"Invitations from God" (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun)

TITLE: Invitations from God: Accepting God's Offer to Rest, Weep, Forgive, Wait, Remember and More
AUTHOR: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2011, (208 pages)

This book is written by a fellow alumnus from my alma mater. With "invitation" as a key theme, Calhoun weaves in 11 areas in which we can find ourselves invited to do. "Invitation" is a great word to use with regards to spiritual formation. It is something unforced but encouraged. It is attractive yet gentle. It is an open invite that has our closest interests in mind.

"Invitations are powerful. Like tides, they ebb and flow, sharing the contours of our existence. . . . Invitations shape who we know, where we go, what we do and who we become. Invitations can challenge and remake us. They can erode and devastate. And they can also heal and restore us.... The things we say yes to and the things we say no to determine the terrain of our future." (9-10)

There are four types of invitations. The first are the "business and career invitations" that "invite us to more productivity, vision, initiative and profitability." The second are the "family invitations" that can affect how closely knitted the family can become. The third kind is "educational" which offers ways to improve or enrich oneself through learning.  The fourth is "entertainment and social" which is an invitation to party. What makes God's invitation different from all of these is that God wants to "mend, shape, anchor and grow us into the character of Jesus."  Our spiritual journey is about how we RESPOND to God's invitation to grow into Jesus. Throughout the twelve invitations, the format is similar. There is first an invite followed by a key passage of Scripture. The author then highlights a roadblock that threatens to derail us from an appropriate response to the invitation. It shows us the way to let the Holy Spirit help us, and then to practice in a way to enlarge our receptivity that God may work even more in our hearts.

"One Big Thing" (Phil Cooke)

TITLE: One Big Thing: Discovering What You Were Born to Do
AUTHOR: Phil Cooke
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2012, (186 pages).

This book begins with two big questions to drive home one big thing. The two questions are:

1. "What am I supposed to do with my life?"
2. "In a hyper-competitive, cluttered, and distracted world, how do I get noticed?"

Both of these questions intersect to drive home one big thing, to discover what exactly are we born to do. It is about focus. It is about being able to recognize what is important and what is not. It is to know oneself, and to be purposeful according to one's knowledge of self. Cooke shows us that without intentional living, we let culture define who we are and what we ought to do. Without a sense of destiny, we will miss the opportunity to make a choice, and instead let ourselves be vulnerable to the whims and fancies of chance occurrences. This is a culture of clutter, of distractions, and very limited attention span. One of the biggest downside of such activism is a sense of meaninglessness. That is why Cooke argues for the need to have a sense of direction, appropriate influence, and a healthy sense of personal identity. Once this is appropriated, one can begin the journey to living the person we really are. We learn to let priorities be driven by values, to learn to take responsibility for the choices we need to make for ourselves, to map out our own future, to see the difference between jobs and our vocations, and to learn to harness the power of modern communications, according to our own make up.

My Thoughts

The way the author writes is captivating. He poses good questions to hook the attention of readers, to enable them to internalize the question into a personal one. He suggests several ideas, in the hope that at least one will hit home. He reads the culture at large and reminds readers that all that glitters out there is not necessarily precious or worthwhile. What is more important is to recognize our true sense of self and worth, and having done that, to learn to live in a manner that blesses others. There are at least three ways to benefit from this book. First, it is a mirror to look and to reflect on our own lives. Far too many people are living according to the values of the world, chasing after material dreams simply because everyone is doing it. As a mirror, it makes us think more seriously about what is more important for us. Second, it is a guide to help us discover who we are and what we are called to be. This sense of being will determine what we can do best. In our world, it is easy to react according to what the world hits us with. We need to learn to sift through the mass of information, to determine what is central and fundamental, and what is peripheral, and having done that, to make a conscious choice for the necessary. Third, it is a book to help us live well, that we can benefit others. Yes, no one is an island. No one needs to live only for self. We need to discover the role we play as a community. For people who feel uncomfortable about self-improvement, lest one becomes too individualistic focused, I like to offer some encouragement. Improving oneself is not wrong. Learn to see self-improvement as a way to bring positive energy and good to the community you are in.

This is one book that makes readers feel good about themselves, and having done that, to make one sit up and do something with their lives. The practical steps are easy to understand. The challenge to step out of our comfort zone is more difficult to practise. If readers are able to overcome their resistance to change, and to live on purpose and overcome the obstacles to change, they will benefit most. This book is strong in calling one to take the first step. It is not so useful when the going gets tough, or when discouragement steps in when the results are not forthcoming. That is why this book may give us the kick start. For Christians, we need the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help us navigate the marathon.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255<http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"52 Ways to Grow Your Faith"

TITLE: 52 Ways to Grow Your Faith: Connect With God in a Busy, Noisy World
AUTHOR: Gregg Peter Farah
PUBLISHER: Franklin, TN: Carpenter's Son Publishing, 2012, (202 pages).

If anyone wants to grow, apathy needs to go. For growth to happen, intentionality and purposefulness is essential. More importantly, the author wants to encourage readers that it is possible, through more than eight ways. One can seek to grow as individuals or with a friend; with a group or as one travels; methodically and courageously; artistically, or creatively. Gregg Peter Farah puts together 52 ideas on how to do just that. It can be adopted in many different ways. It can be done once a week for a year, or consecutively over a few weeks, followed by a daily debrief; or any pattern of usage that fits the interested. The format of each idea is as follows:

• Begins with prompt questions and key verse;
• It continues with a lesson or story;
• A key quote is used;
• A practical suggestion;
• A feedback of the method tried;
• Prayer.

Written specifically for the busy person, it is a quick pick up, read, and practice that will appeal to anyone who says they do not have time to read. Depending on the need, readers can leaf to the section that best suits them, and to apply the way accordingly.

I am wary of books like these that proposes the practice of growing spiritually without adequate slowing down. It can appear like a 52 fast-food ways toward spiritual growth. Unfortunately, the basic premise is flawed. Spirituality cannot be adopted fast-food style. It simply is not meant to be that way. We cannot rush the Spirit according to the steps detailed in the book. We need to let the Spirit guide our thoughts gently and gradually. Having said that, we do not need to hurry through the steps in order to get some kind of a growth. For the busy professional or person who hardly have time at all to do any devotions, this book can help. I want to caution that this is a temporary way, a stop-gate approach for a fast-paced environment. It cannot be manna for the long spiritual journey. That said, having something is always better than nothing. Pace yourself as you read through the book toward intentional growth. My advice to anyone, take one idea out of the many, and meditate on the relevant scripture verse. Do not rush into the application. Let the meditation guide us. If out of 52 ways, you can benefit from at least one, you will have made a worthwhile purchase.

Rating: 3.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Carpenter's Son Publishing and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Special Intentions" (Claire Coleman)

TITLE: Special Intentions: Remembering Others in Personal Prayer
AUTHOR: Claire Coleman
PUBLISHER: Bloomingdon, IN: Westbow Press, 2012, (226 pages).

Big hearts come in small prayers. Gracious hearts go out to others more than self. The dual pronged approach laces this unique book on prayers for others. In a delightful display of Philippians 2:4 in action, Coleman puts her prayers into writing, her care for others in praying, and her love for God through caring and sharing for a world in need.

This is not a book of prayers. Neither is it about prayer or how to pray. It is about keeping others in our thoughts, and in our care. It is about remembering the oft ignored, and caring for others. As sinful people, we all have a tendency toward selfishness, toward self-seeking endeavors. This book seeks to buck this trend intentionally. Instead of "good intentions," the title of the book is geared toward seeing people as unique and precious. The front paints a very meaningful reflecting of needs as best as we can. The more we can observe with our various senses of the needs around us, the better we can pray. The little drop of water at the end of the leaf resembles a tear drop. For me, it means authenticity and a deepening connection with the people being prayed for. I love this image.

There are reflections of life and of prayers about loving one another. There is an empathetic ear toward listening for the burdens for others. There is a growing awareness of gratitude and an encouragement to persevere when the times are tough. Coleman remembers the very public figures like politicians, the law-enforcement officers, the public servants, to the very private moments with personal friends. She observes buildings and structures with gratitude. She echoes the cries of people in dire straits. She prays over the ups and downs of people from different walks of life. She even covers the emotional turmoil over the dying of pet animals. From people in hospices and hospitals, to busy executives in the office, from the school classrooms to prisoners in a lonely cell, Coleman's capacity to think deeply and care widely is amazing. It takes an observant eye to see beyond the obvious. It takes a meditative heart to pray continually. Above all, it demonstrates a love for people, the way that God loves people. Thank God for authors like Claire Coleman, who shows us through "Special Intentions," that it is not only possible to love beyond ourselves and our own needs, it is a delight and a privilege to do so.

The biggest benefit in reading this book is to learn from Coleman a very unique way of plumbing human needs and emotions beyond the superficial layer of a Hi-Bye society. It will cause us to pause our busyness, and to remember a higher cause for good. For Christians, this cause will always be love. Use this book for group prayers. Use it for personal praying. Not only will it be a small step to make the world a better place, it is a big step to grow our inner hearts to be a more loving grace.


Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by the author and Maryglenn McCombs book publicist without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Why Jesus?" (Ravi Zacharias)

TITLE: Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality
AUTHOR: Ravi Zacharias
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Faithwords, 2012, (288 pages).

This is another book on the battle of worldviews.The popular speaker and an exponent in Christian apologetics turns his attention on an increasingly pluralistic culture, where everything from Oprah to Chopra is uncritically accepted by the world at large. Providing a critical eye and supported by historical background and research, Zacharias aims to bring back the reality of Jesus in an "age of mass marketed spirituality." It is the author's concern that not only are people no longer critical of the fake, they are dangerously embracing them as "truth." For Zacharias, truth needs to affirm two sets of combinations together:

1. Truth with Relevance
2. Reason and Faith.  

Any worldview that fails to pass the test of any of the four key elements and their combinations thereof, will not fit the criteria for truth. The key idea in all of these ramblings is that other worldviews point either to a principle, a philosophy, a process, or a product. Christianity points back ultimately to a Person. The problem with the world is that it has succeeded in embracing and absorbing all the worldly spiritualities around them. They have been very open-minded and all-accepting. Yet, they have become closed-minded to Jesus and have adopted a default position of skeptical-first-ask-questions later when it comes to Christianity.

Right from the start, Zacharias makes his case by asking readers to probe whether their form of spirituality is fake "movie-making" or true "soul making." He makes this sharp critique: "Giving yourself the privilege of destroying other positions while parking your own position in an unidentifiable location is a form of linguistic terrorism." (14) He then points out the three ways in which the West was lost.

1. Disillusionment with materialism
2. Shallowness, and sometimes hypocrisy of the Church
3. Free from all kinds of restraint, especially sexual matters.

The new spirituality marries the soul's restlessness, disillusionment with material stuff, extreme hunger for liberation, all adds up to a pursuit of anything that promises to resolve all three tensions. Before Zacharias goes on a tirade against worldly spiritualities, he gives readers a helpful overview of some terms and definitions of the new and old spirituality, and especially how the West is taking a mysterious uncritical fascination with Eastern spiritualities. After this, Zacharias goes on the offensive, taking special aim at the two spectrums of erroneous spiritualities. On one extreme, Oprah Winfrey represents a life that started in poverty but ends up with riches. On the other end, Deepak Chopra begins something from the East and grows in influence in the West. Both of them are roundly criticized for their deceptive philosophies that are ultimately empty and meaningless. He reserves his harshest critique for Deepak Chopra, who has benefitted immensely from the works of three Eastern gurus, Swami Vivekananda (who inspired Ayurveda and Chopra), Paramahansa Yogananda (who inspired  Self-Realization and Eckhart Tolle), and the Maharishi (who inspired Transcendental Meditation).

"Behind the popularizers like Chopra are the real metaphysicians of the soul." (113)

Even Buddhism is mentioned, where the danger is the temptation to want to "become" the Absolute rather than to worship the Absolute. Zacharias highlights the three strands over and over again, that a spiritual search for a belief system needs "relationship, stewardship, and worship." On pain, Zacharias shines in defending the Christian faith, and argues actively that the moment we reject Christ, we are also rejecting the Word, the Son, and the Truth. On Jesus, Zacharias also warns readers against distorting Christ to make Christ a non-sufferer, or nonjudgmental. He even critiques authors like Butler-Bolden, who though they market their writings as something neutral, they somehow cast a negative light when it comes to Christianity.

Zacharias is also fair to admit some of the failings of the Church, especially the accusation that churches tend to be "country clubs for nice people." He reserves 5 criticisms for Christians to take note.

1. Christians tend to be nice only to some
2. Christians have forgotten the spiritual practices of devotion
3. Christians have institutionalized Christianity
4. Christians have failed to grapple with pain and suffering sufficiently
5. Christians tend to be judgmental.

Finally, Zacharias suggests three important questions to ask whenever we come across any worldview.

1. "How do they answer the question of exclusivity as it relates to their own belief?"
2. "What is the source of their authority?"
3. "How relevant is what they believe to the common experience; what difference does it really make?"

He ends the book with a quote from GK Chesterton and a hymn from "The Lost Chord" by Adelaide Anne Proctor.

My Thoughts

I applaud Ravi Zacharias for his honest convictions and passionate arguments. He thinks clear. He criticizes without fear. Most of all, he has shown us the way to be more critical with the worldly philosophies and values that sometimes we accept without asking appropriate questions. After all, if our souls are more important, should we not be more cautious about what we are accepting? At the same time, are we practicing double standards when we criticize Christianity fiercely, but fail to apply the same to non-Christian beliefs? This book is valuable for the background information that gives us an idea of how popular spiritualists like Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, and other mysterious spiritualities are formed. There are many reasons for disillusionment with Christianity. Yet, there are no easy substitute for the vacuum left behind by the Church in this marketplace of religious ideas, in a pluralistic society. The danger for anyone is two-fold. Firstly, one can become so overly critical of the Church, that they close their eyes on all the good that the Church is doing, or has done. This leads to myopic understanding of the goodness of Christ. Secondly, one can become so all-accepting that by accepting everything, they end up with nothing.

If I have a critique of this book, it will be that Zacharias can be easily accused of being too harsh on Deepak Chopra. It will look as if he has a personal vendetta against the world renowned spiritualist. Looking at the big picture, that is not Zacharias's main concern. His main concern is truth, and Chopra is an example of how some modern spiritual philosophies are dangerous not because they want to market truth, but because whether knowingly or unknowingly, they are masking truth.

Zacharias has given us a valuable tool to engage the culture and so questions to help sieve out truth in a marketplace of ideas. Why should anyone read this book? Let me suggest three reasons. If you are concerned about truth; if you are concerned about distinguishing falsehood from reality; if you are concerned about soul making, this book is a must read.



Ratin: 4.25 stars of 5

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by FaithWords Publisher, a division of the Hachette Book Group without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Christian World of the Hobbit"

TITLE: The Christian World of The Hobbit
AUTHOR: Devin Brown
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2012, (192 pages).

This book begins with the prediction by one of the world's most beloved authors in the Christian world, CS Lewis. He says that John Ronald Reuel Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books, may very well be a "classic."  It has become an understatement. In this book, Devin Brown hones in the the key belief about how Tolkien allows his Christian faith to influence the writings of the popular Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series. Brown traces the hard life of Tolkien, who struggles with his loss of his parents, and how his Christian upbringing by his guardians forms Tolkien's convictions. CS Lewis is one of Tolkien's benefactors. Interestingly, Brown observes two different styles of Christian witness. Tolkien is more reserved and implicit compared to his illustrious counterpart. While Lewis has a personal fight for and against atheism, Tolkien's faith is a quiet one.

In Tolkien's letter to Father Murray, he confesses that his work is "a fundamentally religious" work. While Tolkien has removed religious vocabulary and terms in his books, the stories, the plots, and the characters, are plainly and fundamentally religious in nature. The Christian worldview has been embedded in the stories which make this book a wonderful guide to help unwrap and to see what Tolkien is fundamentally talking about. Some readers may be able to see quickly the Christian references in Tolkien's novels Many others may not, and Brown is eager to help this group see it more clearly. Nevertheless, both types of readers can benefit, to affirm those who are in the know, or to illuminate the uninitiated.

That said, there are still some who claim otherwise. For example, Tolkien refutes various claims, that his books represent an allegory to WWII, where Sauron represented Hitler, or mere "Christian allegories." No. The work is fundamentally Christian, but it needs to be read according to Tolkien's personality and writing styles. Two guidelines are essential when trying to understand the Christian world of the Hobbit. Firstly, one cannot try to totally ignore any Christian allusions. Secondly, readers are not to read Christian references everywhere. Instead, the story itself points to meanings of the Christian story, in a way in which the Christian story reflects reality.

In order to understand Tolkien's work, one needs to appreciate the author himself, that Tolkien is not an "explicit" person, preferring a covert manner of presenting the gospel, in contrast to his counterpart, CS Lewis. Tolkien expresses his own emotions best through his stories. He points to the presence of a God who is both seen and unseen. The rest of the book tries to reveal the Christian Worldview through Providence, the purpose, and the moral perspective of the Hobbit.

A) Providence

The author notices Tolkien's use of "luck" and "lucky" on several occasions which leads him to ponder about whether Tolkien is referring to divine providence or unexplained occurrences. The key characters in the stories are seen to exercise a kind of faith that is beyond mere "luck" especially when it comes to critical decision making, like the trip across Mordor. Perhaps, the use of the words "luck" refer to a worldview that most people has, and that the key characters have understood something that is beyond mere luck.  The clear theme is that nothing actually happens by accident. Random chances do not just happen. From the ring being picked up by the most unlikely person, to the ways in which mysteriously, the characters are led from place to place, tells of the presence of a Higher Being who creates them, who guides them, and who provides for them. Whatever coincidences happening at Middle-Earth, seems to have an overarching theme of providence from above, including the struggles with the dark forces of evil. Through the unseen hand, through the still small voice, through how planned events getting frustrated, and how unplanned things happen when least expected. Good intentions are rewarded, like how Bilbo spared the life of Gollum, and how evil intentions are not only punished, but how they unwittingly play into the hands of a Divine Being above for good. In summary, the Hobbit reveals a Divine Provider who cares for people, and guides them through the unseen hand.

B) Purpose

In contrast to some of his contemporaries who write about a world that is purposeless, Tolkien's books exhibit a purposeful endeavour, where the potential of people like Bilbo and Frodo achieves their potential through mystery and adventure. There is a theme of being chosen for a special purpose, to work out a special work of salvation for the world. It is about making use of an opportunity toward a higher purpose. With despair comes hope. With heartache comes comfort. With loneliness comes friendship and companionship. There are themes against materialism, greed, and evil. The character Gollum represents a fascinating two-sided world, one of good and the other of evil. Whether something is good or bad for us, each decision calls for discernment and wisdom. There are also theme of moral courage. It is also an encouraging book in which the smallest and the littlest person in the character of Bilbo, can be used for ultimate good.

C) Moral Perspective

The characters in Tolkien's novels display a "moral universe." There is such a thing as a "right choice" on Middle Earth. There is a point where Eomer needs to decide on the spirit of the law or the letter of the law. There is good and there is evil. There is a constant decision on whether Bilbo ought to kill Gollum or not. The burden is heavy, and the decisions to be made can be heavier still. There is conflict and warfare. There is the power of materialism that is dangerously seductive. For Tolkien, the antidote to greed is firstly in giving away stuff, secondly to embrace generosity, and thirdly to seek after the more important and "sacramentally ordinary" things. Not all glitters is gold. Not all that is dull is empty of value. Not all kinds of power can conquer, but they can surely corrupt.

Finally, Brown reflects upon this book whether it is indeed suitable for children or not, given its heavy theological slant, and the violence in it. In a nutshell, the key element ought to be truth told and truth revealed, rather than fairy tales that end up being untrue. I appreciate this quote from GK Chesterton:

"Fairytales do not give the child the idea of the evil or the ugly; that is in the child already, because it is in the world already. Fairytales do not give the child his first idea of bogey. What fairytales give the child is his first clear idea of the possible defeat of bogey"

It reminds me that what is true can be both terrifying as well as frightening. This is the real world. Instead of shielding children from the world of reality, stories ought to prepare them, to learn that this world is tougher than what fairy tales have taught, and more comforting than what the doomsday prophets have preached. What makes Tolkien's works worth reading and re-reading for people of all ages is simply this. It enables readers to learn about the reality of the world from a safe position. It also challenges readers to be courageous in making good and noble decisions in the light of tough circumstances. Throughout it all, there is an unseen Hand, a Divine Person who can provide, who can lead, who can guide, and Who can save us. This book is one of the clearest explanations of the theological underpinnings of the works of JRR Tolkien.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Abingdon Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.