"The Imitation of Christ" - (A New Modern English Translation by James M. Watkins)

TITLE: Imitation of Christ: Classic Devotions in Today's Language
AUTHOR: James M. Watkins
PUBLISHER: Franklin, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2016, (288 pages).

It has almost become a cliche in Christian circles to talk about living the Christian life: "Be Christlike." What exactly does that mean? How do we become more like Christ? Go no further than Thomas a Kempis's classic work. These words spell out the purpose of this book:

“The one who follows me will not walk in darkness,”
says the Lord. These words of Christ teach us how far
we must imitate his life and character, if we seek true
understanding and deliverance for deception of
our hearts and minds. Let us, then, most earnestly
study and dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ.
Christ’s teachings surpass all the teachings of holy men,
and if we have his Spirit we find spiritual nourishment." (Thomas à Kempis)

Watkins has chosen to do away with the numbering system that some of us have been familiar with, replacing it with paragraphs so that it can read like a modern book. The language is freshly paraphrased in modern words. Some tips in this book are worth pondering:

• Don't be too interested in "Who said this?" Be more attentive to "What is being said?"
• Read the book devotionally, using the re-arranged "disciple" and "Christ" voices. 

The book is instructional and devotional. Sometimes, the segments that are attributed to Christ speaking appear like a mini "Jesus Calling" devotionals by Sarah Young. It takes a little getting used to in reading this new translation and re-arrangement. The language is clear and concise. The voice is fresh and the citations are clearly indicated from the Scriptures. This is useful as other translations tend to footnote the Bible verses instead. I appreciate the insertion of the full verse directly into the text as it aids reading and minimizes interruptions. This infusion of Scripture, paraphrase, and Kempis's words is uniquely Watkins's. There is a tender listening and responding format that readers can adopt when reading this. The words after the headings "The Disciple" can be a time of prayer and seeking God. The portions after "The Christ" can be adopted as getting us ready to obey Christ, as if Christ is speaking directly to us.

For the past 500 years, this classic has ranked among the most popular devotional books about the Christian life. Some even say that it is the second most translated book (after the Bible). Originally written in Latin in the Netherlands back in the 14th and 15th Century, Thomas Haemmerlein (aka Thomas à Kempis) borrowed much of his materials from three sources: The Bible, the Church Fathers, and the medieval monks. The original editions were from four devotional booklets. The modern one we have in our hands is a combination of all four. Promoted by both Catholics and Protestants, this book has been published in more than 6000 editions over 50 languages. Is that not enough? One may ask. Why another translation? Surely, we can get free ones online like here, here, here, and here. Classics are always prime candidates for translations and re-translations. I suspect that more often than not, the primary beneficiaries are the translators themselves. They are the ones who had to read, analyze, digest, paraphrase, and to communicate the truths learned into a manner that they can best express. It will take a little while for readers to re-adjust to this new translation. Some readers may still prefer an old numbering format, or the original Book, Chapter, notation. After the first few pages, once readers get the hang of it, the classic will take over. Be patient. It is rewarding read.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"The Good Fight" (Drs Les and Leslie Parrott)

TITLE: The Good Fight: How Conflict Can Bring You Closer
AUTHOR: Drs Les and Leslie Parrot
PUBLISHER:  Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013, (210 pages).

Is all conflict bad? Is there any benefit at all in fighting? When married couples quarrel, is it a sign of a crumbling marriage? In this book, two established marriage counselors give their take about the difference between conflict and resolution. In other words, "It's how you fight, not whether you fight" that is the key point. Dispelling the myth of good married couples as those who live happily ever after, psychologist Les, and family therapist Leslie, come together to help readers distinguish bad fights from good fights, enable couples to grow in authenticity with each other, and to cultivate resilience of the relationship amid adversity. Putting proper perspective in every kind of conflict, we learn how to measure our "conflict quotient" like distinguishing the trivial from the important, learning the rules of engagement, keeping the fight fair and honest, and even uncovering our own "fight" styles. Just like there are rules to any sports or games, the Parrotts put forth three rules for cooperation; two rules of ownership; two rules of respect; and two rules of empathy; as a way to help couples fight well. That is not all. Fighting well also produces another benefit: Learning more about our own selves. For instance:

• Competitive Fighter: One who is high in expressiveness, and low in flexibility
• Collaborative Fighter: One who is high in expressiveness, and high in flexibility
• Conciliatory Fighter: One who is low in expressiveness, and high in flexibility
• Cautious Fighter: One who is low in expressiveness, and low in flexibility.

In fact, knowing what kind of fighter we are is a tremendous asset in learning how to fight well. Using their knowledge and experience, the authors then teach readers on the various combinations of the fight styles, and subsequently apply them through five big applications: Money, Sex, Work, Parenting, and Housework.

On and on, the consistent message in the book is that fighting is not necessarily a bad thing. It can even save one's marriage like releasing steam to prevent the marriage kettle from blowing up. It creates a deeper intimacy between couples. Ultimately, it brings about greater peace, as couples learn more about each other, about themselves, and more importantly, about the simple things that matter more to any marriage. There is a whole chapter on dealing with anger, a critical aspect of any conflict resolution.

My Thoughts

Drs Les and Leslie Parrott have done it again. Not only have they brought together their own expertise and fighting experiences, they have structured a powerful resource to help all couples deal with their differences, their disagreements, and their disappointments, whenever married couples feel less than "happily ever after." Just because a marriage is not happy or funny, does not mean that it is not a good marriage. In fact, a good marriage is one that is filled with both laughter and tears, joys and sorrows, hugs and fights. It is a myth to think that good marriages are those that are without fights or conflicts. All marriages will have fights from time to time. It is how we deal with each fight as they come along. Avoidance can only make it worse. Untimely engagement will be unhelpful too. What is important is to recognize that when the fight comes, both couples are ready to deal with it fairly, promptly, appropriately, and most of all, lovingly. In keeping up with the times, the authors have also included a free app that can be downloaded and installed in the increasingly common smartphones we have.

This book does not make readers look forward to fights. It gives couples the freedom and the courage to tough it out together, knowing that behind every fight, is an opportunity to learn, to listen, to heal, to relate, to reconcile, and to understand each other better. After reading this book, readers will be reminded again the traditional marriage vow:

"I _____ take thee _____, to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; .... till death do us part."

Fighting well, is actually within this vow. Remember that in each fight, if we hurt our spouses, we are also hurting ourselves, for couples are in it together. Thanks to Les and Leslie Parrott, we have a great resource to help us maintain a fuller view of what we have first promised our mates.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting" (Jim Daly)

TITLE: The Best Advice I Ever Got on Parenting: Incredible Insights from Well-Known Moms and Dads
AUTHOR: Jim Daly
PUBLISHER: Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2012, (176 pages).

This is a compilation of 16 of the world's most prominent parents. Calling them "best advice," Daly helps us to condense them into one book. It is a way to help himself improve as a parent, and hopefully invite readers to do the same. In "Parenting with Grace," authors Tim and Darcy Kimmel share about learning from mistakes what NOT to do. They connect between faith and practice, sharing that kids are on a character watch each time they see their parents. "Grace-based parenting" is essentially about treating our children the way God treats us. Grace.

Kevin Leman chimes in with an affirmation that parents are the child's #1 influence. He highlights 9 parenting myths for parents to watch out for.

Gary Thomas, writer of a bestselling book, Sacred Parenting, gives his take by warning parents against becoming an absentee parent. Children are important enough to warrant parents to re-look at their work priorities. Shaunti Feldhahn, popular for her book on women relationships, contributes by urging the open sharing of love with kids, to assure them of love. Otherwise, kids will default by questioning whether their parents love them. The basic need for kids is reassurance, over and over again.

Dannah Gesh, makes a case for parents to identify and know their children's uniqueness, and then direct, discipline, coach, and encourage them to be who they are made to be. Ted Cunningham shows the way on how to talk to children about sex. Instead of any "shame-based" reference, he advocates honesty and clarity to approach sex without fear and without shame. Amy and Michael Smalley share that the way to set our children up for success is to maintain calm heads and to let the Holy Spirit guide. Telling the truth is a core requirement to learn what they live, and to live out what they learn.

Fern Nichols asserts that parents need to work with God in bringing up the children. The home is a "showcase" to bring up children, as well as point the child to Jesus. Parents are to pray for their children regularly.

Randy Alcorn reminds us that parenting brings about much joys that money cannot buy. The pressure, the stress, the financial struggles, will all be worth it. Phil and Heather Joel gives an interesting contribution on "Garden-Variety Parenting." They provide two insights from gardening. Firstly, one needs to know how and when to weed, and it takes time. Secondly, it is about enjoying the fruits and the process of working the garden.

Gary Smalley shares a parenting tip from a paediatrician, that the key to healthy relationships is to "keep honor high and anger low." Cynthia Tobias Talley advocates the learning parent. Not only that, parents need to be able to let children learn at appropriate times. Mark A. Holmen uses the TRAIN acronym on how to inculcate faith in the children. Time, Repetition, Acceptance, Intentionality, and Never-Ending.

Vicki Courtney shows the way to parent from the inside-out, focusing more on the attitude behind the behaviour. Remembering the Cross is a way of telling the kid what is the fundamental basis of behaviour. Jerry B. Jenkins argues for actions that speak louder than words and Juli Slattery talks about team-based parenting. Humility, discernment, adaptation, and prayer are to be practiced together.

For the busy parent, this book works very well, forming a useful reference book whenever parents want "nuggets" of parenting wisdom. It is good at an introductory level. For anything more advanced, I recommend other parenting books that cover more ground. Having said that, this book aims for breadth rather than depth, and as far as the time-scarce modern family is concerned, this book fits in just nice.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Belieber" (Cathleen Falsani)

TITLE: Belieber!: Fame, Faith, and the Heart of Justin Bieber
AUTHOR: Cathleen Falsani
PUBLISHER: Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2011, (229 pages).

This is a biography of a teen pop star with a difference. It is written from a perspective of faith, by a journalist, using materials harnessed from the teen sensation's movies, interviews, social media, and the press. The storytelling is vivid. Tracing Justin Bieber's rise to stardom, Falsani gives readers an intimate look at the faith of Bieber, often weaving in the lives of the people closest to him, and their influences. Born in 1994 in Ontario Canada, Bieber has become one of the hottest stars in the music world. His meteoric rise has its humble beginnings since 2007. With support and strong encouragement of his mum, Pattie, the hard work of his manager, Scooter, and the power of social media like Youtube and Twitter, Bieber's career is unprecedented.

What is most valuable in this book is the perspective of faith, of how God has helped Pattie hold her life together, despite her traumatic childhood. It also tells of how much Jesus has meant to Justin Bieber. From an unknown bathroom singer to a world famous performer, Bieber has become one of the hottest superstars in this social media age. The book details the timeline of Bieber's rise, and how he and his mum has relied on prayer and on their faith in God to help them through. It also makes reference to the never-say-die effort of Scooter, who diligently seeks to give Bieber a chance at stardom. Falsani brings us many details about the lives of Pattie, Scooter, and his close friends. There are multiple stories and quips of how many individuals, especially the younger generation becomes curious about the faith of Justin Bieber. Although the author did not manage to interview Bieber personally for this book, this book is by itself an engaging enough read. The questions at the end of the book enables readers to asks themselves questions about faith too. It can be a good way to introduce Justin Bieber and his faith to beliebers everywhere.

If you want to know more about the faith of Justin Bieber, this book is a great start, from an outsider's perspective. After all, most of us are ordinary folks trying to peep or to look into the lives of famous stars. From a distance. This book is one of those that bridges the distance exceptionally well.

conrade

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

"Come, Sit, Stay" (Ellen Vaughn)

TITLE: Come, Sit, Stay: An Invitation to Deeper Life in Christ
AUTHOR: Ellen Vaughn
PUBLISHER: Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2012, (272 pages).

This book is an expository journey through one of Jesus' most famous words in Matthew 11:28.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28)

I like the overall progression of coming to grace, sitting in attention, the staying to obey, culminating in a rest that is filled with trust and blessing themes. It begins with the author's personal struggles with burdens, exhaustion, desperation, and a sense of hopelessness. For some reason, Ellen Vaughn becomes fixated on the words of Jesus, and instead of jumping forward to the next verse, she pauses at that verse. With intense concentration, she begins to take the verse word by word, meaning by meaning, and move intentionally toward meditating, chewing, and praying over it. As she finds her soul refreshed and encouraged, she shares the whole process. This book is about that process.

Part One is about the coming to Jesus just as we are. It is a royal summon that we simply cannot resist. It is an urgency to come to Jesus. It is recognizing that the Master is calling. The people that Jesus spoke to during that time are extremely tired. Our culture is not very different from then. Vaughn helpfully puts down four kinds of burdens. The burden of sin, of shame, of shoulds, and of suffering. These four burdens are essentially things that wear us down and there is no way in which we can escape these burdens on our own.

Part Two is about the discipline of sitting and waiting, in contrast to the temptation of touching and going in a rushed mode. Jesus calls us to pay attention in contrast to the world's distractions. The question posed to us is why are we so easily tempted by the world? Why are we having an ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)? Being able to sit at Jesus' feet is an intentional decision toward a deep and rich spiritual life in Jesus. It helps us to be still. It helps us to be still in all circumstances, even when the hurricanes of life storm in. In sitting down to count the costs, one gains the right frame of mind in Jesus. We learn life on Jesus' terms, not our terms nor the terms of the world.

Part Three comes naturally from sit. No longer distracted, one is able to stay and linger in the presence of God. Staying is active, not passive. Stay in anticipation of a great love. Vaughn brings in the Johannine image of abiding in Christ. Enter and remain. Abide in Jesus and letting Jesus abide in us. When one recognizes true freedom, one is free then to be unleashed. One learns that the Christian life is not about rules but about relationships. The amazing change of heart is that one begins to feel less of Jesus wanting us to remain and sit with him, and MORE of wanting Jesus to be with us. It is a happy desire that refuses to let Jesus go. Jesus has become a friend that we long for more and more.

Part Four talks about the true rest, the fruit and the delight of all the actions. Rest is not a spiritual 'neutral' but an active joy. If the first rest is offered by God, the second rest is found by the believer. This is where the moment of Shabbat comes in. References are made to Hebrews 4 on the heavenly rest.

Further Thoughts

This book is an excellent guide to helping believers become more restful in God. Too often, Christians have paid lip service to the promise in Matthew 14:28 that they are unable to truly rest, themselves being easily distracted by the cares of the world. Ellen Vaughn, like a masterful spiritual guide gives us a simple method that is biblical and practical for the layperson to practice. She provides steps for readers to follow, stories to illuminate the points, and multiple references to reflecting on God's promises in Jesus.

If I have one criticism, it will be the title itself. The words "come, sit, and stay" are common commands that are used to instruct dogs. There is even a website in Denver (www.comesitstay.com) that is dedicated to the care and love of dogs. Even the cover has a picture of a dog! While dog lovers may appreciate the image of a dog and the message of rest, not everyone appreciate the application of a dog image to human matters.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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

Review: "Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies"

TITLE: Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies: Reconciling Deeply Held Faith with Honest Doubt
AUTHOR: Stephen Shortridge
PUBLISHER: Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2011.

Is it possible to reconcile one's deeply held faith with honest doubts? Stephen Shortridge says yes, but through the eyes of art, creativity, love, and God.

This journey to God's love is all that Stephen Shortridge tries to address in this book. The author is a self-confessed poet, a painter, as well as a paradoxical writer. He writes:

"In my life of faith, I prefer impressionism to realism, trusting God in mystery rather than my own understanding. That preference puts me at odds with those Christians today who seem to imagine there are no mysteries about God. Which is quite a mystery, at least to me." (xi)

This paradox of faith and doubts, is then described through a journey and framework first taught by St Bernard of Clairvaux's "Four Stages of Love." Shortridge describes the purpose of this book as follows:

"Deepest thanks, deeper apologies is the difference between who I am and who I am becoming, as well as who I'm not and possibly never will be. Gratitude (deepest thanks) and regret (deeper apologies) measure the distance between who I am now and who I will one day be." (xviii)

This journey of bridging the gap is made through the four stages:

• Stage 1 - "I love myself for my sake."
• Stage 2 - "I love God for my sake."
• Stage 3 - "I love God for God's sake."
• Stage 4 - "I love myself for God's sake."

The rest of the book then describes the author's personal journey through this stages, using his paintings, his poetry, and his own life reflections. In Stage 1, the author admits that his own effort to love God and people is not enough. He suggests a paradox of needing to go through certain human sinful states before appreciating God. He describes a need to know foolishness (in order to know wisdom); pride in order to know humility, despair in order to find hope; loss in order to find gratitude; and risk in order to find faith (11). He even calls the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 as 'God's Manifesto of Paradox' (33).

Stage 2 is a recognition that free choice is both a 'blessing' as well as a 'curse' (40).  When selfishness comes in, man starts to use God for his own ends. While his first response to God's love is gratitude, his second response is 'selfish hope' (41). Remaining in this stage is a form of self-sabotage, and makes one guilty of self-righteousness. His paradox theme comes out again that before one appreciates gratitude, one needs to suffer loss (53). He brilliantly questions:

"We all struggle with our desire for balance, that place of imagined security. We all admire balance; we even envy it when we perceive others are living a more balanced life than we. But this balance we see and the balance we desire, is it from God? Is it from a need for God? Or is it personal, prideful gymnastics?" (60)

He then discovers the paradox of finding God in a state of imbalance.

"Eventually, in exhaustion, God offers me merciful futility. I fall down. Gratefully defeated. There is an unbalanced balance that pleases God. You see it throughout the Bible. It's only when I accept my imbalance and acknowledge how weak and crippled I am, that I become dependent on God. That's where I find the paradox of balance, leaning totally on Him." (61)

In Part three, the author shares about his transformation from self-awareness to God awareness. This is his 'second repentance' (76). This is the stage where hope overwhelms doubt, reality over fantasy, patience over demands, and more of God. He then goes through 7 hurdles:

1. Joy through sorrow;
2. Brokenness through betrayal;
3. Sacrifice through selfishness;
4. Peace through fear
5. Repentance through sin
6. Forgiveness through forgiving
7. Love in God.

He then calls Art the signature of man. This act of creation creates us. He learns to love himself. This prepares him for the final stage 4, to love self for God's sake. This kind of love is not self-love, but the self shrouded in God's love. It is in letting God love man. The pressure to perform is lowered. One triumps over the greatest foe: Self.


My Comments

This is a book that is destined to be a classic. It borrows from the classical four stages of love from Bernard of Clauvaux. It learns from the wit of GK Chesterton. It faces not only the highest love of God, but also the lowest sinfulness of man. Through deliberate use of images, prose, poetry, and prayer, the book is an invitation to readers to join in the journey to true love of God. It may be difficult reading for those who are not familiar to Bernard's Stages of Love. Readers used to how-to books may struggle to apply the lessons from the book. This is because readers need the help of the Spirit to understand and to practice the steps in the book. There is only so much that the author can share. The rest is up to the Spirit leading the reader along the stages of love. Only the reader's willingness can enable the progression toward the highest stage.

I appreciate Shortridge's personal application of Bernard's stages. In embracing mystery, one is less frustrated by the constant need to solve life. In embracing doubt, one learns faith. In accepting the paradox of life, one learns about how God can accept man in order to love. In creative art, one becomes more in tune with what one is created for, instead of constantly wanting to perform something that is not what we are made for. In moving toward God, one learns to overcome many obstacles, chief of all, the self.

Ratings 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Worthy Publishing and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. The comments above are freely mine.