Book Review: "Disciple"

TITLE: Disciple: Getting Your Identity from Jesus (RE: Lit)
AUTHOR: Bill Clem
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2011.

This is one of the best current books on discipleship in the Church. Written in a clear and captivating manner, Clem has managed to distill the essentials of discipleship by focusing on the person of Christ. Beginning with the original purpose of man, the author takes the time to establish the groundwork that man's calling is still to be the image of God, that man has been created to be. Clem shows us that God reveals Himself to us, through story, and enables us through listening. What is at risk is not God's story to man, but man's distortion of God's story. He writes:

"The God of the Bible does not seem as interested in us knowing about him as he desires for us to actually know him - to have experiential knowledge of him." (12)

He goes on to add that man's version of his own story is distorted and is a futile search for significance. I find it a great reminder not to make the gospel so man-friendly, that it fails to catch God's story. God's story is told through creation (evidence of God in the world), through the Bible (Inspired Word), through Jesus (Incarnation), through the Triune God (relationships). Other themes of the story include conflict and redemption, and the way back to the image of God is via worship, community, mission, and a keen awareness that man is part of something bigger. Much bigger.

The rest of the book hones on:

• True Image vs Distorted Identity;
• True Worship vs Distorted Worship;
• True Community vs Distorted Community;
• True Mission vs Distorted Mission.

Clem ends the book with a call to renew our focus on God in discipleship, demonstrated in planning, in multiplying, and in faithful living. Without the Cross of Christ, man moves toward shrinking hope. Through the Cross of Jesus, man progresses toward expanding hope and joy in God. The true hero of the story is in Jesus.

The image of God is mysterious, and for man to take wonder. Clem warns readers that there is a tendency to replace this image with 'blessings from God' like 'raises, promotions, positions, and possessions.' (69) There is a danger to replace interconnected living with individualistic lifestyles. There are three major distortions of one's sense of identity:

1. "I am what I do." - where one's sense of identity is based on successes or failures in the world
2. "I am What has been done to me." - where one's sense of identity is based on a reaction or retaliation of what has been done.
3. "I am my relationships, my role, and responsibilities" - of one's sense of identity being wrapped up in temporal and undependable things.

True worship is one that is in love, in truth, in Spirit, in glory of God. Distortions of worship includes the three gateways of pride (Pleasure, Power, People).  In pride lies an idolatry of self that lives a life that is susceptible to anger, or fear.

True community learns to worship together, is devoted to truth, prayer, communion, belonging, and witnessing together. Unfortunately, community is often distorted in at least four ways:

1. Distortion #1: community as therapy, seeing sin or a need to make an excuse to come together.
2. Distortion #2: Some see community as a time to network and make friends or business partners.
3. Distortion #3: Community as Program, where the community is loosely held through programming alone.
4. Distortion #4: Community as 'exclusively Christian', that creates an unhealthy 'us-vs-them' mentality.

True mission is in two parts. The first is about unveiling the glory of God, manifested in God's people, redeemed creation. The second is about discovering and destroying the effects of sin. Again, mission is distorted through various kinds of 'onlys.'

1. Only the message of evangelism, where mission is limited to proclaiming the gospel
2. Only mercy is needed, where mission is limited to good works, social justice, etc
3. Only freeing from sin, which limits the gospel to a mere unlocking of the door and nothing more
4. Only apologetics, where one deals with trying to win arguments for the faith.

Instead, true mission has 4 components. One needs to declare the gospel of hope boldly in spite of opposition in the world. One needs to disclose the kingdom of God through Christlikeness. One needs to display Jesus and the Kingdom through tangible ways, to reconcile man to his original image of God. One needs to defend the gospel of hope, against doubts, sin, and all manner of evil. 

In Planning, Clem deals with three common reactions to mission. Firstly, to the statement "I can't do this," he uncovers the hurdles of habitual sins, debilitating mindsets, and a lack of priority management. He lists down ten friends, or 'specialists' that every disciple needs at various times of his journey to discipleship.

• "A counselor to address your emotional sticking points."
• "A coach to call you to accountability for the goals you set."
• "A pastor to provide spiritual direction."
• "An encourager to provide the inspiration to 'hang in there' and not give up."
• "A peer to serve as an influencer."
• "A consultant to provide information and input."
• "An example to provide a template through their experience."
• "A mentor who is a life stage or two ahead of you to provide wisdom."
• "A friend with whom to walk through the journey."
• "A partner who labors toward the same cause." (188-9)

He proposes a Shepherding compass to help leaders to grow, to feed, to lead, and to protect their flock. Finally, he urges the disciple to be fruitful and multiply through prayer, through the shaping of oneself in the Word, through forgiveness that reconcile relationships, through service with a servant heart, through a visionary mindset, and many more.

My Comments

I like the way that Clem builds his case about discipleship is all about becoming the image of God that God has called us to be, THROUGH Jesus. It is the imitation of Christ. It is to put away our distorted nature, and to let Christ redeem our fallen selves. Without God, the 'image of God' is essentially meaningless. Clem's book is very intentional about becoming like Christ, believing in Christ, belonging to Christ, and bearing the image of Christ to all, through community and hopeful living.

Clem's main idea is this:

"The point I am attempting to make is that if someone is oriented toward imaging God, then the disciple-making process will be more transformational than an informational set of verses and lessons." (65)

Well said. This is a book that deserves to be read by Church leaders and especially disciples of Christ. If you are serious about discipleship, but do not know where to start, the common wisdom is to begin with prayer and the Bible. If you still need help, you can use this book to spearhead your journey into meaningful and exciting path of discipleship.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free, courtesy of Crossway Books and NetGalley without any obligation of a positive review. The opinions expressed are freely mine.

Book Review: "Everyday Prayers"

TITLE: Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith
AUTHOR: Scotty Smith
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011.

Wow! This book is a gift for the Church. It integrates prayer with Scripture. It weaves cultural understanding with a keen awareness of the times. It packs theology with daily practical applications. Most of all, it focuses attention on God without taking one's eyes off earthly needs.

For each day, Scotty Smith writes a 1-page prayer, beginning with a short Scripture passage. Whether the prayer is in the first, second, or third person, the focus is always directed to God. There are prayers of anticipation (Jan 1), of pain and suffering (Feb 2), for being more Jesus-centered (Mar 14), for clarity (Apr 10), on suicidal fears (May 1), on working hard (May 25), and many more. Smith journals his prayers honestly from his heart, intentionally toward God, and compassionately with the world he loves.

I like this particular phrase that Scotty makes:

"Indeed the central and operative questions in life is not 'What would Jesus do if he were here?' Rather, it is 'What is Jesus doing?' since he is right here, and everywhere else, right now." (14)

How true.

There are so many ways this book can be used. As a devotional, one starts the day with Jesus, trusting one's emotional and spiritual needs to God. As a meditation, one clings on to the Scripture passage which directs the day's prayer focus. As a prayer, one internalizes the needs of the world with the feelings inside the heart. Regardless of the ups and downs in daily living, this book enables readers to journey strongly in faith and in confidence that God is in charge. The book can also be used for public prayer, like the congregational prayer in churches.

Fresh. Intentional. Biblical. Brilliant. If you buy this book, do not let it sit on your bookshelves. Keep it by your bedside. Pray with it. Mark it. Meditate on Scripture with it. If you are looking to pay more attention to God, this book is like turning a key on our ignition engine to start our vehicle of prayer.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: "Hell, Rob Bell, and What Happens When People Die"

TITLE: Hell, Rob Bell, and What Happens When People Die
AUTHOR: Bobby Conway
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Multmomah Books, 2011.


This is another book fired against Rob Bell's controversial book, Love Wins. Conway is a pastor passionate about the gospel and biblical truth. He admits right from the start that he 'didn't have to write this book.'  Beginning with his reasoning for writing his rebuttal to Rob Bell's book, he assures readers that what he writes is not against Rob Bell as a person. Instead, the book is about addressing the errors pertaining to biblical truth. He is deeply concerned about Bell's theology that seems to suggest a kind of salvation that is 'so deep and so wide' that all in hell can have heaven (12).  He argues his main point:

"And hell matters. It matters to God because it's where His justifiable wrath is poured out on unrepentant sinners. And it should matter to us because people who don't know about Jesus or are confused or misled about Him are dying every day. The greatest way to love people is not to ignore hell but to become burdened extroverts in telling others the truth - that Jesus has provided a guaranteed way to avoid hell. Not harsh or condescending extroverts on hell, but loving, broken, humble extroverts that speak honestly about the horrible reality of hell. We need to speak up. " (19)

Conway then launches into explicitly stating what hell is according to the Bible. In contrast to Bell's indirectness and fluffy theologizing, Conway is direct, sharp, and clear. He points out 5 major errors behind Love Wins. Firstly, Bell reshapes God into man's image. Secondly, Bell makes the gospel more palatable to human eyes, making it as inoffensive as possible. Thirdly, Bell fails to reconcile God's glory with God's wrath. Fourthly, Bell makes the mistake of elevating love above all other attributes, making love into a 'god' in itself. Like Mark Galli,  Conway also declares that God Wins.

"So it's not that love wins, or justice wins, or holiness wins, but that God in all his perfect attributes, wins! Yes, God wins!" (54)

Finally, Conway accuses Bell of having a confused theology that misleads more than guide.

My Comments

This book is thankfully brief, simply because much have already been said about the contradictions of Love Wins. I like the clear manner in Conway's writings which makes the book easy to follow, point after point. I appreciate the understanding manifested in Conway's explanation, that amid the hard biblical facts, lie soft human questions. Frequently, Conway will offer an insight about the struggles of a reader wanting to see the best of God, and the best of man.

Released as an ebook makes this book more widely available to an audience that is increasingly Internet savvy, with little time on their hands to read thick compendium of arguments. This book gives a good summary in easy to understand format as to why Love Wins has moved away from traditional understanding of Scripture, especially heaven and hell.

If there is a critique, I think while this book is very clear on the doctrines of heaven and hell, in contrast to Love Wins, it may unwittingly be stepping into the domain of mystery, where there are no easy questions or answers. This is where I stand with Eastern Orthodox's preference toward Apophathic theology. I will prefer to entitle the book as: "Why I disagree with Love Wins" or something pertaining to disagreeing with Rob Bell's theology, leaving aside the details of heaven and hell to God alone.

Ratings: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is supplied to me free by Multnomah Books and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. The comments offered above are freely mine.

Book Review: "The Gospel According to Twilight"

TITLE: The Gospel According to Twilight: Women, Sex, and God
AUTHOR: Elaine A. Heath
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011.

I have not read Heath's works before. Yet, I cannot help but finish this book in one sitting. No prizes for guessing how I feel about the book. The title is captivating. The introduction is engrossing. The book is both entertaining as well as illuminating. In many ways, Heath has marinated herself with the gripping style of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight saga. Using words familiar with Twilight enthusiasts and followers, as well as many gospel motifs, this book will be an immediate hit for both Christian as well as non-Christian public in two ways.

Firstly, the book ushers readers into a brief nostalgic journey through all four books in Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn. The author describes the book's characters insightfully. She details Edward's amazing capacity for self-control. She lambasts Bella's seemingly low self-esteem. She credits Carlisle's warm father figure. She points out the interesting role of the Cullen vampire Family that appears more human than the human race. At the same time, she contrasts the dehumanizing and dysfunctional image of the supposedly 'human' family of Bella's.

Secondly, Heath goes beyond simply providing point summaries. She draws out salient theological and gospel themes. Such like the themes of salvation, sin, and conversion. Reflections on the Garden of Eden, temptations, death, transformation. She is explicit in pointing out Stephanie Meyer's Mormon background, comparing it with the various points of theological interpretation. After contrasting Mormon teachings with Eastern Orthodox as well as Catholic/Protestant teachings, she highlights the unique perspective adopted by Meyer, and how Meyer's theology even differs from the traditional LDS Mormon teachings.

Heath's book brings a fresh perspective on the Twilight series. What is most helpful is learning the reasons why Twilight has become a hit among young girls. This is particularly important for parents of young teenagers, especially girls. As a self-professed feminist theologian, Heath is clearly passionate about the female cause. Her main peeve with the book is how it has placed the female sex (played by a weakly Bella) below a strong male figure (played by Edward Cullen). I appreciate Heath's penchant for details, and her ability to draw out the rich theological themes. As part of a course in Heath's teaching program in seminary, it would have been a pity if it is restricted only to seminary students there. Thankfully, with this book, the general public can catch a good glimpse without having to be in her seminary class.

The Gospel According to Twilight blends in contemporary culture interpretation with gospel awareness. The book is an excellent example on how to watch modern movies with gospel eyes. This in itself is worth spending time reading the book.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. The comments above are freely mine.

Book Review: "Discipleship That Transforms"

TITLE: Discipleship That Transforms: An Introduction to Christian Education from a Wesleyan Holiness Perspective
EDITOR: John H. Aukerman
PUBLISHER: Anderson, Indiana: Warner Press, 2011.

This book is a teaching gem for Christian Education people. Touted as a book for Wesleyan students for a Wesleyan holiness perspective, it contains highly readable and educational information, techniques, practical helps for teaching discipleship. All the 14 contributors subscribe to 10 common faith affirmations. They are:

1. High view of the authority of Scriptures.
2. Faith in the Triune God, with specific reference to God the Holy Spirit as most active in our world today.
3. Growing the people of God collectively
4. Beyond cooperation toward unity of the Church.
5. Belief in the Wesleyan quadrilateral: Reason, Experience, Tradition, and Scripture.
6. Salvation and Sanctification as the gateway toward holiness in God.
7. Prevenient Grace, where God stirs the hearts of people prior to them accepting God.
8. Both human free will and cooperation with God
9. Goal of CE and discipleship is CHRISTLIKENESS.
10. Healthy balance of 'being' and 'doing' in spiritual walk.

The book is divided into three parts: Principles, Planning, and Practice. In Part One, ten chapters lay the foundation of what Christian Education means from a Wesleyan perspective. It touches on the historical, the theological, the Christological, the biblical, the cultural, the anthropological, the pedagogical, the missional approaches to Christian Education. 

In Part Two, the administrative, the curriculum, the Bible methods of study, the facilities, and many relevant topics pertaining to designing a holistic Education syllabus are described.

While the articles are generally written with practice in mind, Part Three expands on the practical side of CE. What is particularly useful is the forward looking perspective in the final two contributions by Jerry Hickson. In the first contribution, he calls for a recognition of the positive themes of the emerging movement, as well as the precautions needed. One particular phrase he makes about an emerging trend in education, strikes a chord:

"Dogma has given way to questioning." (363)

If this is true, perhaps the way forward is to embrace more questions rather than dishing out quick answers. 

In the second case, he makes a case for recognizing the changing trends and the need to adjust our curriculum appropriately.

My comments

This book is such a find for those interested in Christian Education, that it will be a shame if non-Wesleyan public miss out on this book. The large compendium of articles cover so many relevant parts of Scripture that I feel evangelicals in general will appreciate this book for its depth of insight and breadth of coverage of all topics pertaining to Christian Education. The many different contributors ensure that the book does not become too orientated to any one particular slant or opinion. Aukerman does a credible job of putting all together.

For an introductory text, this book is clear and explains itself well enough for the first year student of Christian Education. For more advanced readers, this book serves as a useful reference for teaching and for being reminded about Christianity and discipleship. For the general evangelical reader, there is no need to be worried about the 'Holiness movement' aspect of this book. It is fairly presented, and aims to present the basics of a Christian Education curriculum.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided free of charge courtesy of Warner Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All comments are freely mine.

Book Review: "What Good is God?"

TITLE: What Good Is God?: In Search of a Faith That Matters
AUTHOR: Philip Yancey
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Faith Words, 2010.


This is the latest book by Philip Yancey, with lots of references to his previous writings and recollections of his own faith journey. The author entitles this book in a thought-provoking way, showing readers that faith while not easy is possible. Amid a world of suffering, pain, terrorism, heartaches, it is still possible to discover and search for a faith that matters.

The book begins with Yancey's personal near-death experience that rocks him back to memories of his own faith journey. Through the lens of "What Good Is God?" he probes the matter of suffering at the massacre of Virginia Tech University in 2007. Instead on focusing on the pain and hurt, he focuses on the comfort and healing that many have provided.

Book Review: "Reality is Broken"

TITLE: Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

AUTHOR: Jane McGonigal
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2011.

We have all heard of the common saying that computer games are generally not as good and as beneficial when compared to traditional sports. Parents worry over the countless number of hours their kids spend on the computer playing games. Psychologists warn of addiction. Yet, this book uniquely bucks the trend. According to Jane McGonigal, games are actually good for you. Not only that, it helps fix a world where reality is broken.

The basic premise of the book is that gamers in general find fulfilment in computer games simply because they recognize how broken the real world is. In games, they can achieve their highest potential. They can simulate models to solve the world's most pressing problems. They can collaborate with other gamers and build an online community that is real. Contrary to many accusations that games are escapist mechanisms, the author bravely turns the critiques of games on its head, by advocating that games have positive effect on fighting social problems. She describes her vision as follows:

Book Review: "Doing Virtuous Business"

This review was first published at Yapdates here.


TITLE: Doing Virtuous Business: The Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise

AUTHOR: Theodore Roosevelt Malloch
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2008.

Spiritual capital is not only profitable in the long run, it is vital for the survival of any organization. In this book, the author makes a strong case for a kind of business culture that is more than mere profit-making or stockholder-pleasing. At the core of the book's argument is that the goal of business is to bring about both material prosperity as well as a flourishing of the human quality of life. Strongly in favour of capitalism over socialism, what is needed is not to discard capitalistic ideas too quickly, but to cement it with a strong layer of social and spiritual capital. In fact, spiritual capital or enterprise is the way to bring out the best of capitalism.

About the Book
This book is filled with lots of stories from the business world, coupled with multiple descriptions of virtues, philosophy of life, and the meaning of spiritual capital. Spiritual capital is "the bold idea that the creation of wealth by virtuous means is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and others, for our society, and for the world at large." (5)

Book Review: "NIV Student Bible"

TITLE: NIV, Student Bible, Compact, Hardcover
NOTES BY: Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

Two of the biggest questions in Bible translation work is readability and faithfulness. In the Old Testament, the original language is in Hebrew while for the New Testament, it is in Greek and Aramaic. Some translations try to be literally as close as possible to the original language. Examples include the KJV and the NASB. Others aim more at readability without changing the meaning of the texts. This is the paraphrase model, where the MSG and the Living Bible are two popular versions. The NIV has traditionally sat somewhere in between the two. Sometimes this method is called 'dynamic equivalence.'

In this latest release of the study Bible, Zondervan has updated not just the techniques in Bible reading, but also the NIV text itself. It is easy to see the intent of the publisher: Promote Bible literacy by making the reading process as conducive as possible. This I think is a commendable move. Here are the strengths of this latest study Bible. Firstly, the 3-track reading program is very manageable and should appeal to all readers of different spiritual levels of maturity. Beginners use Track 1, where selected themes are covered in two-week segments. In Track 2, major themes of the Bible are covered, but it requires the reader to a chapter a day, for six months. The more adventurous can use Track 3, which is to read the entire Bible in 3 years. Delightfully arranged, the Bible has lots of reading 'guiderails' to keep the reader from getting lost in the details of the Biblical story.

Every book of the Bible contains an introduction to the book. With stories and illustrations, the introduction is a pleasure to read. The use of vivid blue headings throughout gives the Bible a very fresh look. I appreciate the step by step guides and pointers throughout that keeps the reader aware of the contexts and the overall flow of the Bible. There are 'Life Questions' at various points to allow readers to reflect and to apply.

Unfortunately, while I appreciate the many helps and guides in the Bible, I think serious Bible readers will find them too distracting. Novices may be left wondering which part of the texts belongs to the Bible, and which are added by Zondervan. If the distinction is clearer through the use of colors, shades, or fonts, it will enhance the overall study Bible clarity. Experienced Bible readers and teachers will not find them a problem. New readers will not even notice the problem.

Overall, I think the intent of the publisher is good. The Bible is very readable. Unfortunately, this Bible cannot be used alone by itself. Readers need to supplement this Bible with a more literal edition.

Ratings: 3.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free of charge by Zondervan and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. The opinion expressed are freely mine.

Book Review: "After Shock"

TITLE: AFTER SHOCK - Searching for Honest Faith When your World is Shaken
AUTHOR: Kent Annan
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2011.

This is one of the most honest books that tackle the bull of suffering by the horns of honesty. Suffering is something not easily solved or answered. In a book that oscillates between mindful faith, and hurting doubts, Annan sensitively deals with issues of God, disasters, suffering, pain, faith and doubt.

In Part One, the author deals with the issue of 'confronting a crisis of faith.' It recognizes that disasters just happen. Being honest about it enables one to hold the reality of suffering on one hand, and maintain a semblance of hope on the other. The author verbalizes many of our concerns and wishes, by listing down a 'wish list for change.' Wishes like God being able to swipe away disasters before they happen; like God making life less painful than it is; like punishment for the wicked, and reward for the good, and so on. He ends this part by urging readers to learn to feel.

"I want to cry, because when I'm honest about sadness I'm able to be more open to joy. I want to cry, because maybe it will help me find God. Yes, that might be putting too much added pressure on the tear ducts. I want to cry if it helps me find extra strength for my small work toward justice. If we don't turn away, just like this may our tears flow as prayer and then as love." (73)

In Part Two, Annan demonstrates how disasters shake faith in a poignant manner. The Church he attends regularly is also in rubble. Not only is one's spiritual faith rocked, the physical building that represents religious faith is also among the rocks. Faith means to keep moving despite the shocks and after shocks. He notes that after the earthquake in Haiti, one visible trend is the increase in marriages. Under normal circumstances, people marry only when they have enough money. After an earthquake, when everyone is equally lost and poor, people marry without guilt of not accumulating enough riches. In Annan's view, such a rush to marry is one way of establishing 'stability and commitment in a shaky world.'

My Comments
This book looks more like a lament rather than a how-to-relief book on suffering. Each chapter has a verse from a lament psalm: Ps 13. It is a meditation on the author's experience of the earthquake in Haiti and how he weaves in faith and doubt amid the suffering he sees and feels. It takes a physical earthquake shock that reverberates with multiple spiritual aftershocks later on.

How can one enjoy a book like this? I think it is hard. Just like it is hard to 'enjoy' any topic that hurts, it is hard to read about anything on suffering. Suffering us a mystery. No one can fully answer the problem. It is not something to be solved, but to be lived through. We can try to prevent it. We can learn from it. We can even teach about it. Yet, the fact remains. Suffering exists, and the sooner we learn to accept it as a part of life, the better prepared we are to deal with it. Annan shows us the way to deal with it as follows. Lament. Talk about it with God. Frequently. Let our faith linger with God. Do not try to speed up a resolution to suffering for there is none. Do not try to slow down the recovery when there is one. Keep one's faith honest. There is a kind of doubt that leads to faith. Annan has shown us one way to do just that.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

Book Review: "The Ring Makes All the Difference" (Glenn Stanton)

TITLE: The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage
AUTHOR: Glenn T. Stanton
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 2011, (160 pages).

Fewer people are getting married. More are preferring to cohabit. Fewer people want to be tied down to any long-term relationships, preferring instead to short-term ones. Unfortunately, the statistics show that cohabitation is worse for any relationships. In a book that is a clarion call against the temptation of cohabitation instead of marriage, Stanton conveniently brings together scientific research and social studies that consistently proves that cohabitation is a bad idea.

In chapter one, Stanton traces the origins of cohabitation, that while it is an old idea, the reasons are different. Long ago, people cohabit because of a lack of ministers to conduct the marriage. Nowadays, people cohabit because they have a low view of marriage. In chapter two, the author raises the question of what couples are looking for in a relationship, and proves that cohabitation does not meet their real needs. In chapter three, Stanton gives about 9 reasons why cohabitation is worse than marriage.

1. Cohabitation has no glue to link the relationship;
2. Cohabitation results in a lack of desire to invest in the relationship financially
3. Cohabitation lacks the advantage of strong supporting friends of married couples
4. Cohabiting couples are twice as likely to experience domestic violence than married couples
5. Cohabiting couples are twice as likely to cheat on each other; men 4x more than husbands, and women 8x more than wives;
6. Cohabitation does not lead to building up of wealth, unlike marital couples who combine their resources more readily
7. Cohabitating couples, especially men, are less likely to do house chores
8. Cohabitation carries higher risk. Just check out life and auto insurance premiums for non-marrieds.
9. Cohabitation is mere togetherness, while marriage is commitment

"Understanding World Religions" (Irving Hexham)

TITLE: Understanding World Religions: An Interdisciplinary Approach
AUTHOR: Irving Hexham
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

As an avid student of Ninian Smart, Hexham approaches the study of world religions from the perspective of an active comparative study, even though some of the studies may be controversial in nature. Unlike most books that mainly describe religions, the author here chooses to go beyond that. He opts to look at world religions firstly according to what practitioners understand, and secondly, to give his take on religions from a Christian standpoint.

In trying to understand what 'religion' means, one needs to understand the contexts that give religions their shape and meaning. Things like rituals, institutions, traditions, myths, doctrines, and 'sacral sentiments' all make up the contexts of what any particular religion means.

In studying religion, Hexham highlights five practical approaches, namely the historical, the philosophical, the logical, the sociological, and social anthropological. The value of the book lies in how he manages to link all of them together in an inter-disciplinary manner. This makes the book very holistic and covers a wide area of perspectives. He makes an important point in acknowledging that there is always bias in any study. Thus one needs not be embarrassed about one's stand, including his own. In other words, it is better to recognize one's bias upfront, in order to give readers a helpful stance to study and critique any work.

Hexham chooses to categorize the world's religions under three big headings: 'African traditions,' 'Yogic traditions,' and the monotheistic Abrahamic tradition. The first touches on the tribal religions, witchcraft, zulu etc. The second covers Eastern traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and 'Yogic-types.'

I find the stance of the author helpful. In openly acknowledging his perspective from a Christian point of view, he needs not fear being accused of being biased in any way. More often than not, he is truthful. I find Hexham's treatment fair. Christians will benefit from having Hexham as a guide to show them greater understanding of the world religions. Non-Christians can benefit too.

Though the book can be academic and heavy going, it should be a part of any students' study of comparative religion.

conrade

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This book has been provided to me free of charge by NetGalley and Zondervan without any obligation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are freely mine.

Book Review: "What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary"

TITLE: What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary
AUTHOR: James Emery White
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011.

This book is an extremely practical book on Christian ministry, for pastors, leaders, and anybody concerned about effective ministry in churches and Christian organizations. Full of real life examples, and wise tips for ministry, the author has given the Church a gift. Distilling his experience as a pastor, a professor, and a parishioner, White shares pertinent observations of 25 aspects of Christian ministry, ranging from inner emotional survival of the leader, to the outer face of doing Church ministry. There is a little bit of everything in this book. Do not let the simplicity of the layman language deceive you. The book is for leaders and those concerned about christian leadership in the Church.

My Comments
When something that is so obvious but are so clearly communicated with style and with wise substance, it strikes a raw nerve pleasantly. White has given us 25 wise counsels that will help us not only survive but thrive in doing Christian ministry. I appreciate the way the author strings together his personal experience, his professional ministry, his professorial insights, as well as down to earth observations of Christian people, and ministry work.

Unlike some Christian manuals on leadership, this book is highly readable. Academic references are kept to a minimum. The aperture of real life experience are opened to the maximum. The wit and humour helps one to laugh at the silliness of some of our expectations in ministry work.

There are many points in the books that evoke involuntary affirmations of "Yes! Yes! Yes!" within me. Do not let the simplicity of the book fool you. It is a profound work of academic thought and practical help, welded through the many years of ups and downs of Christian ministry. It can be used as material for pastoral reflection, curriculum for training Christian leaders, as well as a way to give laypeople in insight into the unique challenges surrounding Christian ministries.

Buy your leaders a copy of this book. Get your pastor to read it. This book should be required reading for all seminarians, especially MDiv students/graduates. For anyone discouraged about ministry, this book packs a punch that not only jolts one back to realistic expectations, but smothered with lots of encouragement.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Book Review: "God Wins"

TITLE: God Wins - Heaven, Hell, and Why the Good News is better than Love Wins
AUTHOR: Mark Galli
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2011.

In the light of the hype surrounding the phenomenal controversy over Rob Bell's "Love Wins," this book simply has to be written. In a point by point, blow by blow rebuttal, Galli musters up his deep theological concerns about the book, and gives a vigorous response to the problems surrounding "Love Wins." In a nutshell, "Love Wins" underestimates hell and misunderstands the love of God. He observes:

"What is assumed in this entire discussion in Love Wins is that the human will is free, autonomous, and able to choose between alternatives. The discussion assumes that the will is not fallen, that it needs no salvation, that it doesn't even need help. It assumes that human beings are unbiased moral agents who stand above the fray and make independent decisions about the most important matters." (71)

Galli is meticulous in dismantling the entire book. Careful not to judge Rob Bell, he focuses on the book itself. This sets the stage for the book, that it is not one to judge a person, but to judge the ideas in the book. Having done that, Galli unleashes everything that he disagrees with in the book in an unapologetic fashion. In other words, he does not mince his words.

In chapter one, Galli questions the kind of questions that Love Wins poses. According to Galli, the questions in "Love Wins" are centered around 'self-justification' rather than God justifying human beings (4). Chapter Two builds upon this, saying that the God behind "Love Wins" is lopsided toward a 'thin and sentimental' kind of God (18). In chapter three, Galli helpfully lists 7 deadly realities of the problem of sin (38).  In chapter four, one of the problems behind "Love Wins" is that it tries to solve 'faith.' Galli writes:

"This is the place where Love Wins speculates about whether everyone will eventually be saved. This is a significant question, and there will be more on it in chapter 7 of this book. But toward the end of that chapter in Love Wins, the question is set aside because, admittedly, it can't really be answered." (67)

In chapter five, Galli criticizes Love Wins for its deficient description of heaven. In chapter six Galli continues his dismantling by questioning the theological credibility of Love Wins's attitude toward hell and judgment. For instance, Love Wins illustrations of hell tends to refer to victims who suffer 'hellish consequences' instead of something more eternal (103). In other words, hell tends to be more existential than eternal. This is another example of a deficient understanding of hell.

Chapter 7 talks about the bad news of Love Wins: Universalism. Calling it an 'argument from desire' Galli contrasts Love Wins presupposition as man getting what man wants rather than God wanting what God wants (115). Love Wins is wrong to have attempted to do 'divine maths' where it assumes it is unthinkable for God to let so many 'billions' of people die. In chapter 8, Galli concludes by declaring God wins based on God's terms, rather than Love wins based on man's terms.

"We trust not simply that love wins or that justice also wins. In fact, we trust not in a that but in a who. And that is the perfectly merciful and just God who wins." (152)

My Comments
I feel that this book hits the mark on many points. Galli is eloquent in his rebuttals, using illustrations to highlight his points of disagreements. In fact, reading this book helps readers to understand the nuances of the theological differences more. I will say that both books, Love Wins and God Wins ought to be read together in a package, as they complement each other more, rather than negate each other. While I have theological disagreements with Rob Bell's book, I feel that Mark Galli has overplayed his disagreements. In other words, Love wins is not as bad as Galli makes it out to be. Bell is earnest and bold enough to deal with the difficult question of eternal hell. Galli may have been a little too harsh on Love Wins.

This brings me to one negative. As I read the book, I get the feeling that Galli is simply looking for problems in the book to criticize, just like a hammer looking for nails to hammer.

In conclusion, do not read "Love Wins" without reading "God Wins." In other words, do not just read one of them. Read both.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been made available to me free of charge by NetGalley and Tyndale publishers without any obligation for a positive review. The comments and opinions expressed are freely mind.

Book Review: "Rumors of God"

TITLE: Rumors of God - Experience the kind of Faith you've only heard about
AUTHOR: Darren Whitehead & Jon Tyson
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2011.

[This book is also published on my main blog: Yapdates]

This wonderful book by two very good friends, tells of God's strange but delightful work in people, of an observant spiritual eye noticing the working of the Holy Spirit. It is a story of good news, repeated through the mantra of ‘rumors’ that every Christian ought to hear. Essentially, God is nearer than we think. God is closer than we feel. God is present where we are. The central message of this message is that God is more real than we experience, more present than we feel, and more active than we think. The authors quote CS Lewis’ words in their book as their main theme:

“The world is a great sculptor’s shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life.” (Darren Whitehead & Jon Tyson, Rumors of God, Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2011, 5)

Coming to life it is! Using seven chapters to convince the mind and to convict the individual heart, one chapter to inspire the spirit of community, and another two toward global justice, environmental concerns and eschatological hope, the book calls us to live out our faith openly and passionately. Before one can do that, one needs to re-focus and re-direct their attention. One reason why many Christians fail to experience God is because they are barking up the wrong tree.

“Society seems to be drifting further and further into secular humanism and we, as Christians, feel powerless to do anything about it. Ironically, the culture grows increasingly more spiritual while the church grows increasingly more practical. No wonder most Americans say they’re not interested in Christianity.” (6)

The book is a clarion call for readers to live out the faith they profess, and to let God turn one from statue into a bold living out of one’s status of being children of light.

My Comments

This book is immensely practical and very inspirational. It is a reminder to us that the gospel is not hearsay. It tells us that it is real and can be even more real, if we let God lead us.

I like the way the authors distinguish mercy and grace through the example of a motorist pulled over by the police. Mercy is about being forgiven the driving offense. Grace goes far beyond forgiveness. Grace is forgiveness and continual giving all rolled into one. (72) Calling forgiveness the central theme in the biblical narrative (81), readers are urged to learn to live humbly through the giving up of their perceived rights, as well as debunking the six myths of forgiveness (90).

The structure of the book reveals the authors' intention. Before one can begin living passionately for God outside, much work needs to start from the inside. I suspect this is the reason why the authors use seven initial chapters to stir up reader’s soul to start noticing God by noticing the rumblings within ourselves. Recognize that we are motionless statues without God. Let Christ give us life, and the Holy Spirit give us vitality to live out that love of God in Christ. The pattern is evident throughout the book.

A lot of space is allocated to describing the Western culture, and readers in the Western world will appreciate the many familiar symbols, consumerism, materialism, and spiritualism.Readers will appreciate the many illustrations and easy to follow cultural references, and how Christians can live biblically amid the worldliness around them. One of my favourite chapters is about living out the gospel in order (chapter 5). In a world where many try to do too many things in too little time, it is easy to misplace our spiritual discernment, and to misinterpret gospel priorities.

There are rumblings of spiritual work in the background. There are ruminations of revival. There are rumors of God. Those of us who are discouraged in our spiritual walk, or who desire spiritual revival, begin with this book, and see how the stories, illustrations, and the good news inspire you to turn rumors into reality.

conrade

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"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".

Book: "The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity"

TITLE: The Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity
EDITOR: Daniel Patte
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

This 1343 pages compendium of dictionary articles have been meticulously collected from 828 contributors from all over the world. It attempts to be ecumenical, covering all branches of Christianity, and their major interactions with the different cultures, other religions, and traditions. It touches on almost anything one can think of. There are articles on theology, history, culture, tradition, spirituality, and things related to both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. There are also entries that describe concisely how Christianity has been received in the various countries.

My first impression of this book is one of surprise. For example, what has 'Shamanism' got to do with Christianity, and why certain countries are entered in as an article? After a while, I realize the intent of the book is to give an appreciation of how Christianity has grown, influenced, and continued to be an important part of this world. I like the way the contributors painstakingly try to be objective about the way the articles are written. Though it is written as a dictionary for Christianity, it works well both as a academic reference book, as well as a practical resource to learn about various contexts and backgrounds that host the Christian religion. Patte has done a great job. The extended bibliography is worth taking a look.

Ratings: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

Book Review: "The Unexpected Adventure"

TITLE: The Unexpected Adventure - Taking everyday risks to talk with people about Jesus
AUTHORS: Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.

This is a book about personal evangelism. In particular, it empowers believers to take a step of faith forward to share Christ without being bogged down by results. The author's purpose is described as follows:

"Our unabashed goal is to paint a real-life picture of personal evangelism that's so compelling, so desirable, so irresistible, and so darn do-able that you will be anxious to take the next step yourself -whatever that is - in engaging in your own adventures." (18)

The rest of the book is essentially about 42 days of 'adventure' in which believers in their ordinary circumstances, and neighbouring communities, see life as an exciting, purposeful, and meaningful journey. Each chapter begins with a short story and description of the day's topic. It then points out certain action principles, ending with a biblical inspiration at the end of each day. What makes the book very readable are the personal stories shared by the authors, as well as the practical steps readers can take to putting the ideas into practice. The authors write with a profound understanding of the common layperson, unsure and fearful of evangelism. There are ideas on: