"Answering the Contemplative Call" (Carl McColman)

TITLE: Answering the Contemplative Call: First Steps on the Mystical Path
AUTHOR: Carl McColman
PUBLISHER: Charlottesville,VA: Hampton Roads Publishing, 2013, (192 pages).

Before one can respond to any call, one must listen and recognize the call. Once the call is heard, one needs to decide what to do about it. Once the preparation is done, one needs to put it into action. This three fold process is deliberated in this book about "mystical faith." McColman summarizes spirituality as follows: "So, if life is a journey, then spirituality is an essential part of that passage." What makes the contemplative so mystical is that the goal of such a journey is to "have no goal," and the purpose of finding God is not on the outside, but finding God inside. Simply put, mystical spirituality is that deep longing for God, so much so that the material becomes immaterial. It is a call for deeper intimacy.

The first thing to note is to recognize that God loves us. The second thing is to respond to God's love by preparing for deeper communion with God. The third thing is walking this path of love. All three things are described in this book.  There are calls to pray and to seek God more deeply. There are communities that one can seek out to walk the journey together. There are opportunities to practice the journey both alone and with people. The main thing to note is that mystical spirituality is not something that necessarily locks us into any kind of a mould. It liberates us to choose to be caged in willingly, or to wander off freely. It encourages us to walk at a pace that is in tune with God and with our own creative makeup. It gives a peace that the world cannot give.

Let me offer five thoughts with regards to this book. Firstly, I like the aspect of invitation to the journey. For instance, love is not something that is forced upon, but freedom given and received in grace as gifts. Only when we are free to enter in and out, can we begin the journey of love. When we think about the "call," it is always about an invitation rather than an imperative. It is an invitation to wonder and to enjoy the entire experience. We need to see it as solving some kind of a problem, but to appreciate with thanks the privilege of embarking on a journey. Freely offered, freely accepted. It is that invitation to love God and to be loved by God.

Secondly, there is a certain mystery in this kind of journey. In our modern world of science and technology, sometimes we have become too clever for our own good. We concoct our dreams of happiness. We strategize our way to success. We calculate what makes sense with regards to personal fulfillment. If we let these things define our spirituality, we will be in trouble, just like us trying to explain the ups and downs of relationships. Psychologists or therapists will know that their prescriptions and theories can only go so far. The rest comprises of discernment and wisdom. Mystical is often an openness to the divine and for the self to learn new revelations from God. It is a journey that begins with Christ, continues with the Spirit, and ends in God the Father.

Thirdly, I appreciate McColman bringing into the book the wisdom and teachings from the classic spiritual mystics. People like Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, Walter Hilton, Teresa of Avila, Evelyn Underhill, and many others have lots to teach us.  One of the common teachings is that it is God who notices us first, and not the other way round. It begins with God.

Fourthly, just like the mystics of old, McColman uses lots of metaphors and images to help readers understand the themes more. Like the image of mirrors in our lives, reflecting the need for inner purity so that we can reflect goodness to the outside. Being awake from our sleepy world is another useful metaphor. Far too often, we practice spirituality with heavy eyelids, and fail to even begin well. Spiritual awakening must happen first before the start of any spiritual journey. The spiritual life needs to be nuanced beyond our scientific mindset.

Fifthly, the use of stories gives life to the message. In fact, when explaining the mystical paths, there is no better way than stories to string together teachings and ideas. It highlights the relational aspect much better than any scientific steps or practical processes. The spiritual life is essentially about spiritual relationships. Unlike some other types of spirituality, Christian spirituality is an attempt to connect to the Person of Christ,  and not about a spiritual system or a kind of metaphysical state of being.

Highly readable, immensely practical, and richly inviting, this book is a great start for anyone desiring to learn more about contemplative spirituality.



Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Ephesians" (Stephen E. Fowl)

TITLE: Ephesians: A Commentary (New Testament Library)
AUTHOR: Stephen E. Fowl
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012, (280 pages).

Another commentary on Ephesians? After all, we already have lots of them in the Christian books market. The ancient Church fathers like Chrysostom, Ignatius, and others have expounded on it. Reformers and post Reformers like John Calvin, John Wesley, have written volumes on it. Likewise, modern commentators like FF Bruce, Peter O'Brien, Harold Hoehner, Charles Hodge, and others have also given their contributions too. There are so many out there that sometimes, we need a commentary on these commentaries! This is what Fowl has brilliantly done. Not only has he given a general survey of some of the commentaries out there, he has also given good food for thought about commentaries. For instance, he identifies correctly that approaches to writing commentaries differ widely. Some tend to be overly "straightforward" without adequate attention to the nuances of contexts and culture. Others swing to the other end, of being too opinionated that their own views dangerously obscure what the texts are trying to say. Fowl gives high marks to commentators like Hoehner, Lincoln, and Best as being the top of the heap of commentaries. The following presents Fowl's conviction about what a good commentary is.

"A commentary may indicate how specific passages, in connection with other passages and in the light of larger convictions about God and world, cohere with and regulate one another, thus helping Christians speak about their faith and practice with greater precision and clarity. My hope is that this commentary will do all of these things when and as it is appropriate to do so."(2)

Seeking to offer the commentary more as a conversational starter, Fowl spends time working through the core arguments of Ephesians, the outline of the whole epistle, authorial intent, authorship and theological implications, the life of Paul, historical references, styles, audiences, themes, exegetical discoveries, and the connection of Ephesians with other books such as Acts, Colossians and others. More importantly, Fowl wants to help readers interpret Ephesians as accurately as possible, to appreciate the letter as holistic as possible, and to bring to life the applications as truly as possible.

The main body of the commentary comprises of 15 sections. Though Ephesians have 6 conventional chapters altogether, we know that the original letter is not in terms of chapters or verses, but in the form of a personal letter. Fowl bases his sectioning on thought and flow of themes. As he writes, he places several personal takes on the verses, often in the light of different interpretations, prefer to take an agnostic approach. For example, in Ephesians 1:23, in response to the energy other commentators put to clarify or to remove any ambiguity of the text by giving clearly delineated explanations of what the text means, Fowl is comfortable in letting the ambiguities remain believing that it is a more fruitful approach. As long as the various theological views do not contradict major doctrines or beliefs, and each speaks truthfully about God, there is no need to be too caught up on making a stand for any one strong view.

Fowl also links widely to the other letters of Paul, connecting the desires of the flesh in Ephesians 2 with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 6. Bringing in scholarship from other sources, Fowl makes it convenient for readers to compare the different interpretations for themselves so that they can make their own judgment.  
A good commentary allows readers to know what is said by the biblical writers, and what is said by the commentators themselves. This commentary is good in that sense, as it manifests that proverbial "guide by the side" rather than the dictatorial "sage on the stage." What I find most helpful is the way Fowl bridges the ancient with the modern, like the way he suggests modern applications of the text like how a Christian who is free can live freely in the world. The key point is that we are free (in Christ). Any life lived outside of Christ is bondage. We are reminded of our former lives as Gentiles without faith to our new lives in Christ. Moving from Ephesians 2 to 3, Fowl makes this useful observation that the letter progresses from the description of the spiritual "state" of believers, to personal sharing of what Paul is going through himself. It makes this letter very personal and deeply candid about Paul's life. It shows the heart of Paul for the cause of Christ, namely the Church of God. He then homes in on the theme of unity in Ephesians 4.

Fowl notes the common distinction of Ephesians 1-3 as "doctrinal" or "indicative," while Ephesians 4-6 as "moral instruction" or "imperative." Such distinctions are not cast in concrete, simply because the transition from Ephesians 3 to 4 are more connected than disparate. The key thought is that while the distinction is not unhelpful, it is profitable to remain open to other interpretations. One way is to see it in the light of grace and as gift to the Church. Whether it is an instruction, an observation, or a command, in the light of grace, it will be a delight to obey. Ephesians 5 continues the theme of holy living, and here, Fowl is in agreement with most commentators, that it is full of instructions for Christians on how to live well. In fact, Fowl goes farther to assert the emphasis of Ephesians 5 in terms of walking in wisdom in the world, in the home, and in the church. These things are to be continued strongly in the Lord through Ephesians 6. 

I like this commentary for the way Fowl remains agnostic about any one way of interpretation. He leaves room for other views. He provides ample scholarship to whet the appetites of the theologically astute. He offers suggestions for readers on how best to apply the text in the modern world. He explains the exegetical aspects appropriately without letting readers become bogged down by the weight of the analyses and technical details. I admit that at times, I feel more comfortable if Fowl has been more emphatic about his own stand. It makes it much easier for me to know where he stand in a more affirmative way, instead of simply taking an open approach that does not give readers much grip. In a nutshell, if readers are looking for something that is dogmatic, they will be disappointed. For scholars and researchers, this is a great commentary to work with.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Mud and the Masterpiece" (John Burke)

TITLE: Mud and the Masterpiece: Seeing Yourself and Others through the Eyes of Jesus
AUTHOR: John Burke
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013, (304 pages).

The essence of this book lies in learning to see the world from the eyes of Jesus, and to live in the world through the grace of God. Starting with a lament about the hugely negative perceptions of Christians in the modern West, Burke begins with asking why. Why are Christians perceived as intolerant, bigots, hypocrites, homophobics, and so on? Sometimes, these labels are given without even allowing believers to offer any defense. It is like many parts of society have already made a judgment. A Christian is one who is guilty until proven guilty.

Before we go on arguing about the rights and wrongs of such perceptions, Burke takes the humble approach to ask why. Perhaps, Christians have themselves failed to see from Jesus' perspective. They have failed to practice what Jesus had taught. They have failed to demonstrate grace and love. They have unwittingly focused on the mud of people's sins instead of seeing the masterpiece of the person. Burke gives this powerful metaphor of an old British coin covered in layers of mud. After cleaning with acid to dissolve away the mud, one sees the shiny metal beaming with clarity. Such is the nature of man, muddied by sin. Such is also the nature of how people see each other. Do we prefer to see the superficial mud at the expense of cherishing the beautiful person the mud is covering? Burke gives us the steps to distinguish the difference, and to do something about it all.

Part One goes into examining how Jesus mingles naturally with sinners, the marginalized, and the outcasts in early Jewish society. He relates more than condemns. He restores rather than destroy. He sees the good in people instead of being distracted by the ills of human nature. He knows that all people are created in the image of God, and the real enemy is the devil who is trying to make a mess of it all. He teaches that it is important to speak the truth, but equally important to speak the truth in love. Never forcing his way through, he lets people exercise their freedom of belief, senses the needs of people, sharing the pain of the ordinary, and most importantly, offering the gospel of salvation and God's love. It is important to remember that Christians are not to be quick fixers but empathetic friends; seeking truth and also loving people. When the choice needs to be made, decide on the basis of God's love and truth. Both have to be affirmed together.

Part Two puts it all into practice. Build relationships. Create community. Serve our neighbours. Help people grow. Develop leaders. Multiply for impact. Live and cultivate missional communities. Start with a small core of disciples. Understand and appreciate the contexts we are in. Then through prayer and wisdom, discern the clarity of the mission and the concrete steps to build bridges. Burke diagrams the trajectory of "people flow" from small to large, from inside to outside, and from Christ to all. Beginning with a core group of 4-35, start connecting with a larger community of 10-75. This larger community will be a powerful influence of a crowd (25-100) whose contacts (75-300) and beyond will form the circle of impact in the city. Network with people of peace. Be restored and bring restoration to broken relationships. These and many more about ordinary people doing extraordinary things comes about with a focus on Christ, to see from the perspective of Christ, and to live Christlike in the communities we are in.

My Thoughts

Burke hits the mark in his description of negative perceptions of Christians. In fact, I will even say that negative perceptions are not new. For all the good and right things Jesus had done, people still persecute and murder Jesus. It is a stark reminder that even when Christians are doing all the right things, they can still be accused of all kinds of things. You do good works? Why not do more? You are truthful? So are the non-Christians, they say. You preach Christ? Why are you not more like Christ? With sarcasm and skepticism, the Christian in the West has an uphill task to climb. It is not easy. If Jesus did not find it easy, neither should disciples then and now. That said, I have four thoughts about this book.

First, we may not be able to control the perceptions out there now, but we sure can do something about our own testimonies and lifestyles now. We do not need to go tell the world about all the good we have done, or become defensive about things that are wrongly perceived. Through our actions of grace and love, regardless of what kinds of mudslinging thrown at us, we can still live with grace and peace. Jesus has even said that those of us who are persecuted in the name of Christ, are blessed.

Second, it is the gospel that changes the world, not our defending of the gospel or any negativity surrounding the faith. There are genuine as well as unfair accusations. That does not make the gospel any less valid or potent. The gospel is for all, sinners, slaves, and the worldly. All of us are sinners. All of us need the gospel. Christians must remind themselves that they are not to behave as if they have the right to shove the gospel down the throats of people. Instead, Christians are to learn from Jesus, just like the way he offers to drink of living water to the Samaritan woman.

Third, the mud is sinfulness. Everyone of us is a masterpiece that is muddied by sin. The blood of Christ cleanses us from our sins. Be careful not to win the arguments but lose the person. Just like the folly of winning the battle and losing the war, we cannot insist on our own rightness, and make everybody else look silly and dumb. I admit there are Christians who have been way too insensitive with non-believers. There is no use to be right, when one's behavior and actions are not Christlike. Learn of Jesus on how he manages to speak the truth in love. Christ has said that greater love has no man than one who willingly lays down his life for his friends. Yet, Christ has gone way beyond this. He lays down his life also for his enemies! That is love extended to all people.

Finally, remember that each of us is created in the image of God. Christ wants to reveal the masterpiece in each of us. Let him.

This book is powerful antidote for believers feeling lost about how to engage the world. Take heart. As Christ has overcome the world, we too shall overcome. Not with bullets, guns, or weapons of mass destruction, but with gentleness, love, and bridges of mass re-conciliation. Most of all, this book is for all of us to learn to differentiate the mud and the superficial, in order to see the masterpiece and the essential. This book shows us a practical way to do just that.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free, courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"ReLaunch" (Mark Rutland)

TITLE: ReLaunch: How to Stage an Organizational Comeback
AUTHOR: Mark Rutland
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2013, (208 pages).

Maybe you feel that your organization is not growing. Perhaps you may be feeling your organization is stuck in the rut? You may even be scratching your head not only about what to do, but where to start. Like a failed launch of your sail boat, what is needed is a new attempt, an improved effort, or simply a re-launch. Or like a ship cruising apparently to nowhere, one needs to not only re-adjust the sails, but to re-affirm the reasons why the boat was launched in the first place. Re-focus. Clarity of purpose. Turnaround.

This is a book about organizational turnarounds. It is common to see organizations that have thrived well in the past, only to decline or to lose the vitality and energy over time. Beginning with the story of the cruise liner that crashed off the coast of Cyprus, killing more than thirty people, and causing not only the careers of several people, but also the environment problems created. Rutland argues that the problem does not start with the crash, but way before the ship ran aground. What can we do about a ship that has crashed? What about organizations that are experiencing dysfunctional times and are heading toward disaster?  How can leaders save their organizations? By relaunching, says Rutland.

A) Learning Component
Any turnaround comprises of three main components. Firstly, there is a learning component. In a phrase that is so synonymous with Max DePree's classic, "Leadership is an Art," Rutland begins with some excellent material on the importance of dream and vision, and how all other structures, methodologies, leadership styles, people traits, and organizational culture can be tethered together in what Rutland calls, "Turnaround Leadership." He shares about his own experience at a megachurch and two universities. So successful was he at the megachurch turnaround that he was invited to lead a school even without prior teaching experience at a school. With dreams come the overcoming of fears. With boldness comes the overcoming of three main challenges:

1. Need for personal transparency;
2. Willingness for making tough decisions;
3. Hanging on to position loosely and always ready to let go of power and position when the time comes.

Rutland says it very well, the key problem in any organizational turnaround. What to do with the different groups of people whose philosophies clash? How do leaders steer a peaceful course between those who want "radical change" and those who prefer the status quo? Enters the second component: The Seven steps of Rutland's turnaround.

B) The Seven Steps of Organizational Turnaround
Step #1 - Facing Institutional Reality
This means being able to see the problems as they are, as well as the strengths and opportunities. Like DePree's classic leadership call to first "define reality," Rutland also echoes the same starting point, through understanding the organizational worldview, respecting the past while envisioning the future, using stories and illustrations each time to press forward the point. 

Step #2 - Communicating a Vision
Having a vision of the future trumps retaining the status quo without idea of the future. For any change to occur, the vision needs to be clear and focused. It must be so clear that every member of the organization will have no trouble articulating that vision. It must be focused so that one is not easily distracted by issues that come and go. Leadership is essentially communicating this vision. So important it is that it is the one thing that leaders cannot delegate. It must be demonstrated passionately. 

Step #3 - Aligning Markets, Message, and Medium
This step represents the nuts and bolts of stringing together the elements of a turnaround. Alignment is critical. Markets need to be understood as to what size we are talking about, what is the productivity we are looking at, and whether we have the means to reach this target group. Having identified the market, the message needs to be crafted to match. Then comes the medium in which the message will be transmitted. All three elements need to be constantly aligned and realigned according to the turnaround emphasis. Leaders need to be careful not to let any change or challenges of any of these three derail the vision.

Step #4 - Creating an Executable Strategy
Having lots of activities is not enough. One needs to focus on the right activity. The same can be said of strategies. First avoid taking the wrong bridge. Then, look for the bridge of maximum opportunity to implement the strategy. Rutland presents a six-step process to do just that.  

Step #5 - Shifting Culture
We do not operate in a vacuum. Organizations have to deal with cultures in the world. Rutland distinguishes culture from brand, in that it is not the brand that defines the culture, but the culture that defines the brand.  In any turnaround, he is wary of any "culture of feudalism" that basically divides and conquers. This may even mean organizational divisions inside are pit against each other negatively. Such a culture is toxic to people inside the organization and also the motivation to move the organization ahead. Another culture to avoid is "parallel model" where groups within do not talk or connect. Another bad model is "perpendicular model" where groups within clash often. The "circular model" is also no good, where the organization goes nowhere except in circles. Avoiding such cultural tendencies is critical.

Step #6 - Keeping an Eye on Quality
For Rutland, quality is essentially meeting expectations. Knowing the expectations is also critical. Sometimes, like many marriages, unspoken expectations come out of a lack of communications. That said, a leader needs to constantly communicate expectations in order to maintain level of quality. 

Step #7 - Measuring and Celebrating Success
Small quick victories are essential to building a turnaround momentum. That is why setting some measurable targets can help immensely. 

C) Team Building
The third component in turnaround strategies is in the building of a team. Hire appropriately. Adopt a system like the finder-binder-minder-grinder system.  "Finders" are creative and entrepreneurial, and are great assets to move organizations forward. "Binders" are those who can systematically bring things in order and in proper perspective. "Minders" are process persons, people who manage existing systems and processes well. "Grinders" are those who have the grit to finish the work set forth. Leaders must learn to help these four types of people work together well. That is why a leader needs to understand his own personality in the first place. Rutland also observes the potential conflict between "finders" and "minders" for they tend to irritate each other. Leadership is in terms of keeping them working together, tolerating if necessary.  Learning to hire also means learning when and how to fire when necessary. A good leader will use firing as a last resort.

Rutland also has a word for forming a board of directors. He focuses on cultivating the board's inner voice through isolating emotional tendencies that can retard any turnaround; avoiding legalistic philosophies that tend to simply things into right vs wrong; and to let a holistic approach balance out the management and the leadership culture. A good board will practice accountability, affirmation, and a responsibility to gather or relinquish resources. A bad board will obstruct appropriate change out of fear, and an ugly board that tries to micromanage everything. He ends with some words of advice to the turnaround leader.

My Thoughts

Leadership is an art, calling for an attitude of humility and discernment to meander among the various perspectives and emotional attachments to structures of organization; styles of leadership; methods of management; balance of chaos vs control or change vs conformity; fear of the unknown vs courage to  explore. That said, I venture to propose that leadership is both an art and a science. Good leadership knows the difference between the two, and will be discerning on how and when to implement them. Great leadership however, will let the art and the science aspect inform each other, and to connect the organization internally as well as its interactions with the culture at large. Spiritual leadership is in terms of wisdom in leading, managing, and working through the turnaround processes from beginning to end, enabling not only the organization to grow in terms of meeting its objectives, but the people inside to grow as persons as well.

This book has given me much food for thought, and though the biblical examples are not many, a lot of what Rutland says make sense from a consulting and practicing standpoint. This book on relaunch can become a seed for a whole new series of books on leadership. I highly recommend this book for leadership and anyone desiring healthy changes for the organizations they love.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Get Off Your Donkey!" (Reggie McNeal)

TITLE: Get Off Your Donkey!: Help Somebody and Help Yourself
AUTHOR: Reggie McNeal
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013, (176 pages)

If a face can launch a thousand ships, and a snowflake can cause an avalanche, as far as Reggie McNeal is concerned, it takes a random statement to launch the writing of a book. As a believer of helping others, McNeal uses the title, "Get Off Your Donkey" as a way to get people off their highs of comfort to go down to the trenches of real life ministry, and servanthood. It is written to three groups of people. The first group is for people who are already out there, raring to go and do something. Here, McNeal aims to help them "recalibrate" their efforts so as to be more effective. The second group comprises of leaders who are determined to make changes to their "ministry scorecards" for greater "kingdom engagement." The third group is for the non-believers (or non-Christians) to catch a vision of service, so that they too can go serve and bring help to the communities they are in. When it comes to serving one another, faith is no barrier. How McNeal does it, is through storytelling and challenging.

Beginning with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, he asks readers to first put themselves as an observer of the various characters of the parable, and then to make a choice which one they want to be. He asks probing questions like:

• What is keeping you on the donkey?
• Are the distractions of life such as busyness and unavailability preventing you from stepping out to help others?
• What are the fears that are stopping us from proceeding a life of service?
• Are we under the shroud of apathy? 
• Are we unwilling to change at all, even when we know there is a lot of good we can do?

Slowly and surely, McNeal moves for the jugular of fear. Why let fear keep us from helping our neighbours? As we step out of our comfort zone, get off our donkeys, and get our feet wet, we can be of help to people and to share the love of God with all. We are made for a reason, and often, our calling is discovered in our service of people. We can discover more of the meaning of life. We can effect a smile from God as we work out his will and his purposes for our lives. Saying is not complete until we actually do it. Talking is nothing until we actually walk it. Theory must be put into practice. Love is shown through service. Service demonstrates the values we hold. Values put meaning into relationships. As we serve, we see more of our strengths to build upon, and our weaknesses that remind us to depend on God.

McNeal does not end there. He believes that every learning is not just about learning new stuff. It is also about unlearning old stuff, especially those that are not helping one move forward in cultivating new skills, talents, and competencies. The "unlearning curve" involves knowing one's own history, personality outlook, family of origin, psychological makeup, spiritual condition, and many others. This helps one gain a sense of self-awareness and identity. Then, we can decide which stuff we need to deduct in order to move forward. For example, the habit of wanting to please everyone is not a good thing to retain. This habit must either be reduced or negated. Secondly, there are life skills to consider adding to. One can then develop the required skills for the required work involved. Thirdly, there is a need to manage the resources we have, like time, money, and our physical health.  Fourthly, it is vital to grow as a person. Service is important but mere serving without any self-awareness only leads to haphazard activities that can wear one down. Serving needs to lead to a path of growing as a person. Finally, McNeal introduces a life "scorecard" that encourages us to celebrate wins, coaching tips, dealing with relationships, and many more. He makes this crucial observation that the purpose of such a scorecard is not about the final score, but about "keeping score." 

I find McNeal's idea refreshing. It is an intentional book written to challenge people to live intentional lives themselves. The first step is often the hardest. Sometimes, we tend to wait forever for something to happen before we take the plunge. The fact of life is, staying stuck in the rut, in our comfort zone will only cause us to rot and to be depressed about life. It takes risk and faith to step out to make a difference. It requires courage to move forward to an unknown lifestyle to put the interests of others as more important than ours. It demands our willingness to offer something for nothing initially, and at the end gain a lot more. I once heard from a friend that there are three types of people in this world. The first kind are those who wait for things to happen. The second kind are people who make things happen. The third kind are those who wondered what happened. Reading this book makes me dream up of a fourth kind of people. This kind are the people who serve in order to make others achieve their dreams. In the process, I believe that in helping others discover their dreams, in some special ways, we discover ours too.

Great read!

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy by Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Crucifying Morality"

TITLE: Crucifying Morality
AUTHOR: R W Glenn
PUBLISHER: Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2013, (116 pages)

This book is an exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, commonly referred to as the Beatitudes of Christ. The key problem in the reading of the nine beatitudes is that many have turned it into a modern platform for legalism and morality. In nine chapters, Glenn shows readers how Jesus comes to earth not to install more rules, laws, and regulations, but to crucify morality and to set us free. To be 'poor in spirit' means recognizing that by ourselves we are broken and empty, messed up and utterly poor in ourselves. We need poverty of spirit to help us recognize that we are helplessly desperate as children of God, for our Father in heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, not because they are downcast or upset, but because of the promise of comfort. Blessed are the meek because the worldly and the powerful foes of this world are only temporary. Eventually, God gives all things to the meek, his people. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled, for to hunger is better than to have.  True satisfaction is only from the Lord and in the Lord. Blessed are the merciful because we recognize first of all that we are all recipients of mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart because a simple focus on God alone is the only way to let God manifest his presence in us. It helps us to be honest and true. It is not religious steps but graciousness from God. Blessed are the peacemakers for peace is not obtained by war and violence, but through peacemaking and love. Only the person of peace can be ambassadors of peace. On persecution, Jesus reminds us that when we are being persecuted, it is not about us. It is about Jesus.

Four guiding questions enable readers to read better. First, questions for the head help readers to check for key concepts. Second, the 'heart' question searches the inner part of our hearts. Third, there are questions to help us connect with Church and minister through the Church ministry. Four, the "city" question enables readers to look beyond their comfort zones to reach out to others. Glenn has taken the beatitudes and warn readers against turning these into laws or their laundry list of do's and don'ts. Calling it a "new moralism," Glenn has preferred to focus on the later part of each beatitude, choosing to remind readers that the beatitudes are all centered and refers to Christ as a person. It is not about doing things in the name of rules, but behaving like Christ in the name of Jesus. It is not about instilling some kind of a moral code, but restoring the lost essence of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Most importantly, Jesus personifies, exemplifies, and lives out the entire beatitudes. They are beautiful, and the keeping of these beatitudes will be richly beneficial, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"DiscipleShift" (Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington)

TITLE: DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (Exponential Series)
AUTHOR: Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013, (240 pages).

Most of us will be familiar with the phrase: "Paradigm shift." It represents an out of the box or a seismic transformation of thinking and doing, in order to bring the purpose of an organization or a movement forward. It has to do with a change of mindset. It requires boldness and an openness for fresh and effective approaches.   Joel Barker first popularized the notion of a "paradigm shift" back in the 70s. Since then, the idea has been used in many different places. Before one shifts at anything, one needs to recognize the need to shift. Beginning with a critical observation of spiritual lethargy and how little discipleship is happening in churches, Putman and Harrington observe that many leaders have approached church ministry wrong at the onset. They look at numbers driven strategies. They search for a one-size-fits-all solutions. They seek to apply wholesale programs thinking as if the program is the magic for church growth. Those attending conferences and training tend to look for "silver bullet" solutions. At the core are two issues at stake. What is the destination? This is followed by "What kind of leadership style is needed to move toward this?" Effectiveness is keenly sought after. That is not all. What concerns the authors is that Christians not only fail to practice discipleship making, Christians are also becoming more worldly in their approach and their lifestyles. They separate Church from daily living. They dichotomize responsibility sharply between the clergy and the lay. They fail to make disciples.

We are reminded to distinguish a change of style versus a change of purpose. The former can change. The latter does not change. The methodologies and strategies can vary. The objective of making disciples remains the same. In this book, the authors Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington try to do both, by homing on the big idea of helping disciples make disciples, through five different shifts. It is hoped that through each shift, doing church can be more effective as Church people moves toward "relational discipleship" that is biblical and effective. In sum, the two words to consider are: "Focus" and "Methodology." Right focus and right methodology makes for a powerful discipleship strategy.

Briefly, I have summarized the five shifts as follows:

1. From Reaching to Making.
   FROM: Discipleship is understood in terms of reaching out to bring converts.
   TO: Discipleship is about making disciples to be disciple-making disciples.
2. From Informing to Equipping.
   FROM:  Discipleship is understood more of a transference of information.
   TO: It is about making disciples through equipping, educating, teaching, and creating an environment for making disciples.
3. From Program to Purpose.
   FROM:  Haphazard programming
   TO: Meetings and programs that accomplish a purpose, whether building relationships or demonstrating Christlike discipleship, through Share, Connect, Train, and Release.
4. From Activity to Relationship.
   FROM: Discrete ministries and programs that do not have an integrated focus
   TO: Cultivating a culture of relationship building and ministries that are aligned toward Disciplemaking
5. From Accumulating to Deploying.
   FROM: Measuring success based on buildings, budgets, bodies.
   TO: Developing and Releasing people to let them serve inside and outside; using a blueprint of share-connect-minister-disciple.

This book is powerful in at least three ways. Firstly, it provides a guide for discipleship drawn from real life experiences. Readers will be quick to notice that there are many stories that backed up the ideas and strategies mentioned. There are real people. Their stories add to the reality of ministry. There are frequent flashbacks on traditional methods that have led many churches to become stagnant and die. There are also warnings to wake people up from the sleepiness of ministry to the wakefulness of discipleship. The biblical mandate is weaved throughout the book.  Secondly, the book is written with practice in mind. Many books on discipleship tend to be heavy on the theoretical portion, but relatively light on the implementation aspect. Not this book. Putman and Harrington energize readers to take the plunge as soon as possible through practical steps, logical flows, memorable visuals, and exciting ideas. The discipleship strategies, phases, and movements are diagrammed clearly through a circle chart. Four concentric circles summarize the gist of the shifts needed in any Church. You can read them from the outside in.

• First Circle: Moving from Sharing -> Connecting -> Training -> Releasing (SCTR for short);
• Second Circle: About the scope of relational ministry based on SCTR;
• Third Circle: About the Stage of Spiritual Condition (Dead - Infant - Children - Young Adult - Parent)
• Fourth Circle: Identifies the language and behavioural traits of each spiritual condition.

Thirdly, the book contains lots of focus on actively equipping and engaging the people of God more. It does not throw away the old completely, though it points out that old models of a superman minister cannot be sustained. It concentrates on the biblical model of a humble minister, serving out of love and building a relationship of people helping people. The church is about people ministering to people. It is about a many-to-many ministry, not a top-down or a one-to-many ministry. It is about everyone serving one another in the name of Jesus.

The examples help readers know that the ideas have been tested and tried. That is not all. The authors close each chapter with a summary of the key points so that readers can be refreshed and are able to use the summary as a reference index in future. Those who have read the whole book, and have been impressed by it, will appreciate this summary to enable them to get back in quickly. Each chapter includes a "Ask Dr Coleman" section, which is an interview with the famous master-teacher of evangelism and discipleship. In fact, these interviews are alone worth the price of the book. I savour every page of this book and appreciate the candour of the authors and the real-life implementation strategies. With this book, Churches will certainly be equipped with a powerful tool to aid their design and strategy of a discipleship culture for their churches. If your church does not have a discipleship strategy right now, or are in need of a refresher, or a re-start, why not begin with this book? For all we know, what we need is not simply a new idea about discipleship. What we need is to re-ignite a passion for discipleship, a purpose in discipleship, and a growing desire to make disciples on all people, nations, and beyond, beginning with ourselves. The following sums up very well what discipleship is about.

• Demonstration: I do. You watch. We talk.
• Assistance: I do. You help. We talk.
• Delegation: You do. I help. We talk.
• Observation: You do. I watch. We talk.
• Spreading: You do. Another watches. We talk.

One more thing. If you want to have a good night's sleep, do not read this book before bedtime. It can make you jump up and want to start putting it into practice. This is one of the best books on practical discipleship I have read.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"The God Who Walks Beside Us" (David Roper)

TITLE: The God Who Walks Beside Us
AUTHOR: David Roper
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2012, (136 pages).

Suffering is not an option. In fact, for anyone desiring to follow God, suffering is part and parcel of that obedience. Using biblical examples of faith during times of doubt and disappointment, Roper shows us that for every struggle that tries to hem us down, there is an overcoming that will lift us up. For every occurrence of suffering and pain, there is a promise and assurance of comfort and companionship. It is exactly this. We sense the presence of God who walks beside us, not so much during our bubbly, jovial mood, but often during times of stress and distress.

Based on the character of Jacob, this book is formerly published as "Jacob: The Fools God Chooses." Roper studies the person of Jacob, whose name essentially means "he deceives."

The biblical Jacob went through many different kinds of struggles. First, he had to endure sibling rivalry.  At first looks, Jacob seemed to be one who was cunning to deceive his elder brother Esau to give up his birthright.  The incident turned Esau from a close brother to an enemy who hunted him down. Forced to flee, Jacob discovered the presence of God who continued to walk with him, and to manifest his presence. Secondly, Jacob also had trouble marrying Rachel.  Wanting to marry Rachel, he was forced to marry the elder Leah, and had to work many years just to gain Rachel's hand in marriage. Somehow, God made Jacob wait, and in the process tested Jacob's sincerity. Thirdly, Jacob had work trouble, and pocketed nothing even after 14 years of hard labour for his uncle Laban. Fourthly, Jacob thought that he could wrestle the Lord, only to be spared. After that experience, Jacob was a changed man. Fifth, Jacob was asked to go back to Esau and be reconciled. It was the willingness to obey that demonstrated the inner quality of the man of God.

These and many more are some of the powerful insights the author has of Jacob. Filled with quotes and notable writings from Reformers like Martin Luther, converts like John Newton, spiritual writers like Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and many more, Roper shows readers that suffering is not altogether a bad thing, especially if it is something that is done out of our obedience to God. In fact, with each suffering, with each trial, believers going through the hard times will get a special opportunity to experience God's grace and deliverance. Not only that, there are powerful spiritual lessons that can only be learned through the school of hard knocks.  Roper observes:

"God will use anything to get our attention. It may be, as it was with Jacob, a change affecting a relationship—a much-loved child turning away from us, a long-term marriage unraveling, an old friendship fading away. It may be some prize we attain that leaves us feeling dissatisfied and empty, or something we lose that leaves us brokenhearted. It may be a change we cannot avert or a circumstance we cannot change. But whatever comes our way, we can be sure God’s love is behind it, helping to pry our fingers loose from this decaying earth and drawing us toward Him and our eternal home. When our hearts respond to God’s call, however, we can be sure of opposition."

With God's call, there will be opposition as the believer obeys. Yet, the presence of hostility and trial guarantees something far more precious: God's presence. This is something that Jacob experiences over and over again. Toward the end of the book, Roper becomes even more reflective of our modern world and his own experiences. He encourages readers to learn to accept trials graciously, putting bitterness aside. Take small steps forward. Resent not. Complain little. Trust God. Above all, if believers can learn to look beyond the suffering, see the bigger picture of faith, wear the lens of hope at all times, and most importantly, to sense the presence of God, they will be most blessed. As I read this book, I am reminded too of Jesus' words about how blessed we will be when we are persecuted for righteousness sake, for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of Christ, for we will be comforted. Comforted with God's presence.

Today is Good Friday. This book is an apt reminder of Jesus, who did not get the benefit like us. God the Father turned his face away in his deepest hour of need. All for the love of us. It is because of this sacrifice, God raised Jesus from the dead, and we as believers, will get to experience always, the presence of God who walks with us, whether we know it or not.

Rating: 4.5 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.

"Reasons for Belief" (Norman L. Geisler)

TITLE: Reasons for Belief: Easy-to-Understand Answers to 10 Essential Questions
AUTHOR: Norman L. Geisler and Patty Tunnicliffe
PUBLISHER: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013, (240 pages).

Know why you believe. Know what you believe. Know the reasons for your belief. These are important considerations for anyone seeking not just to give an answer for the hope they embrace, but to be personally convinced and convicted about their faith. There are many tough questions when it comes to Apologetics. Geisler and Tunnicliffe manage to distill them into ten of the most popular "challenges" that often make it hard for non-believers to come to faith in Christ. These ten challenges are:

1. On Relativism: "Real truth does not exist. 'Trust is just truth to you."
2. On the evidence and existence of God #1: "Christianity rests upon God's existence. If God does not exist, Christianity is false," and God does not exist.
3. On Monotheism: "If God exists, He isn't necessarily the God of the Bible."
4. On Miracles: "Miracles don't happen."
5. On the Reliability of the New Testament: "The New Testament's many errors make it unreliable. It's more like a collection of myths and legends."
6. On Jesus' deity: "Jesus never claimed to be God."
7. On Jesus: "Jesus didn't prove he is God."
8. On Resurrection: "Jesus did not rise from the dead."
9. On Religious books: "The Bible isn't the only true religious books."
10. On the way to God: "Christianity is too narrow. There are many ways to God besides Jesus."

The cover page visualizes the ten challenges through icons that represent the wide range of challenges. There are issues that range from creation to the resurrection; from the reliability of the Bible to the reality of Jesus as God; from worldview philosophies to Christian theology; to engagement with plural concerns and freedom of belief. The authors hope to equip readers with a ready defense of Christianity. The ten challenges are carefully selected and thought out so that one can argue convincingly that Christianity claims are true. Typically, each chapter goes like this. First, the authors state plainly the challenge. Second, the problem is further described often in a philosophical manner like comparing and contrasting two intellectual assertions.  Third, the reasons, the assumptions, and the preconceived notions are laid out. Four, closing comments from the author about the challenge and how it impacts believers or seekers. Finally, the arguments are summarized.

What I like about the book is its simplicity of approach. Without beating around the bush, the authors state the problem and its assumptions, even bringing in other worldviews so that readers can fairly compare and contrast them on their own. Using scientific knowledge, philosophies of the age, classic and familiar worldviews, together with modern examples and apt summaries, Geisler and Tunnicliffe make apologetics look so easy to understand. Some of the comparisons include:

• Magic vs miracles
• Theism vs Atheism / Deism / Pantheism / Polytheism / etc
• Biblical texts vs others
• Jesus vs the other religious teachers 
• Biblical worldview vs other worldviews
• ...

With the reader in mind, the authors have put together a simple guide for anyone who needs help on explaining their own faith. Being able to put the tough philosophical challenges in a simple statement is not easy. Explaining the steps in a credible manner is even tougher. Kudos to Geisler and Tunnicliffe who help remove the complexity out of important questions, providing reasons for belief and at least, a step forward in the direction of embracing the faith. One thing still remains for the skeptical reader. Understanding the reasons for belief is one thing. Accepting it as a viable answer is another. 

This is not the first work on Apologetics by Geisler. He has written other books like, "When Skeptics Ask," "If God, Why Evil?," "Reasons for Faith," "The Big Book of Christian Apologetics," and many more. Geisler has always been clear and is able to channel his personal convictions through the lectures he gives and through the books he writes. This book is a beneficiary of Geisler's many years of experience, knowledge, and interactions with people. When I read this book, I ask myself the following questions. Why are there only ten challenges? Why these ten? How did the authors decide on these final ten? What audiences are they trying to reach? Let me then leave you with three thoughts.

Firstly, these ten challenges summarize the most popular modern barriers to belief in Christianity. Readers will recognize many of these challenges right away with a nod or an utterance of "Yes!" It addresses some honest questions with honest answers. Secondly, some of them are what I call "classic" or "evergreen" statements of anti-beliefs, among those who are honest seekers or skeptics. They can only be understood through faith. Reasoning can only lead one so far. One still needs the step of faith in order to truly understand. Thirdly and more importantly, the authors have presented a methodology that can be applied to other types of challenges. Readers can do their own research, or read other materials by Geisler. They can ask their own questions and compare with other worldviews. They can even word their own doubts and to work through them honestly with the Bible in hand. After all, if truth is truth, there is no worry that it can ever become false. What readers must be aware is that, truth is often not found out, but revealed. It is like uncovering the blanket to discover the hidden treasure, or having something in our heads light up. When truth is revealed, we will be set free. Clearly written, I recommend this book for those seeking to explain their own faith clearly and reasonably.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Baker Books and Graf-Martin Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Revealing Jesus" (Darlene Zschech)

TITLE: Revealing Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional
AUTHOR: Darlene Zschech
PUBLISHER: Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013, (400 pages).

[*Note: This is a review of the book, not the music album.]

The most critical part about being a worship leader is not simply being musically talented, or having a stage presence. Neither is it being a professional musician or a perfect choreographer. It is worship. A worship leader is first and foremost a worshiper. A worshiper is one who is close or desires greatly to draw close to God, as often as possible. Daily devotions is a great way to cultivate that sense of God's presence. Darlene Zschech, a world famous worship leader, who has written powerful hits like "Shout the the Lord," "Power of Your Love," "The Potter's Hand," and many others, has shared the inner source of her strength: Devotion to Jesus. She longs for this book to encourage readers to worship Jesus "with every fiber of your being."  In this book, Zschech demonstrates that worship is a 365 days commitment, every day of the year, to reveal Jesus. Twelve themes are broadly explored. Through her personal journey, she reflects upon God's faithfulness, holiness, power and might, Savior and Lord. The careful reader will note that there is a thematic movement of the works of Christ toward the Person of Christ. Revealing Jesus is a gradual awareness that God is not distant but near. God is working in the lives of others as well as ours. God has spoken in history and is speaking now.

Each day begins with a Scripture verse followed by a short personal devotion, a classic hymn, lyrics of a song, and ends with a brief personal prayer. It honours special days in the Christian Church calendar like Resurrection Day, Christmas, and Lent. The devotional allows readers to observe significant seasons like Lent and Christmastide. There are periods of contemplation and encouragement. There are also many acknowledgements of our own weaknesses and doubts. One particular area I appreciate is how Zschech dedicates the second part of the month of August toward meditation on the names of God. She leads readers to worship and to lift up the attributes of God through the different Hebrew renditions. The author weaves through the whole devotional other themes like God as the Shield and Rock, God as the Gate, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Risen One, the Bread of Life, God of Peace, Friend of Sinner, and many more.

Zschech is also a worship pastor, and this book in a way can be used by worship leaders in their churches to allow the music and songs be complemented by a meditative Bible reading and a brief devotional. Read a snippet or a page. Pray a sentence or pause for a moment of silence. The words allow leaders to invite their people toward a gentle reflection of God himself, through the use of Scripture and the devotional. Zschech has written a simple guide that is gentle to the heart, to bring hope to the down and out, and to direct attention more toward Jesus. If this book can help anyone see Jesus more clearly or more personally, to me, that will be worth every penny you spend. Indeed, worship need not be restricted only to lyrics and song. Worship can be channeled through words, through devotional, through prayer, and any movement of the heart that desires to see Jesus revealed and glorified more and more.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Words for Readers and Writers: Spirit-Pooled Dialogues" (Larry Woiwode)

TITLE: Words for Readers and Writers: Spirit-Pooled Dialogues
AUTHOR: Larry Woiwode
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013, (240 pages).

This collection of essays puts the value back into words for readers to appreciate, and for writers to create. As we continue to adopt unabated, the digital medium for all kinds of communications for literary work or leisure, it is increasingly important to realize that words are not simply binary bits to be turned off and on. There are powerful meanings to ponder. There are insights to be held in wonder. Words is the water that gives the river its stream of life. It is the fuel that energizes way we live. It enriches human communications. Woiwode in this book seeks to inject a greater appreciation for the use of words for several groups of people: readers, writers, and other users like speakers and listeners. Using a mental picture of two drawers (inner and outer) to touch on a four-drawer folder (self, memory, interviewers, and editors). The essays are then grouped in three parts; how words are used; how users use words; and the different kinds of users of words.

Part One is about the "uses of words." It deals with the questions surround what words are for and how they are being used. Woiwode explores the way words are used in family relationships and how it contributes to unity. There is a bond that stories and histories are weaved through the use of words. They can increase intimacy. In litigation circles, words are dependent on who is speaking it. For instance, in a courtroom, the litigator (or plaintiff) is usually referred to as the second person; the defendant the first; with the judge and the court as the third person. Woiwode explores the role of poetry, even hinting at the longevity of age-old poetry that will outlive even the hottest technology of today.Words can also be used in autobiographical sketches, being used for both fiction as well as non-fictional purposes. Of particular interest is spirituality, where Woiwode centers the place of faith, and how words point one toward spiritual matters. Words amplify meaning. They lead us to appreciate the mysteries of the spiritual world. Readers are urge to re-tell history and put it in the forefront of Christian Education. One essay includes an interview with the author with IMAGE magazine, on how a writer visualizes a mental image inside, and to use words to draw them out. Such drawing out of an inner picture can also be done through metaphors like e-mail, simile, medium, play, and of course word pictures. Words are so powerful that at one point, Woiwode even cautions writers not to usurp the place of God in their writing.

Part Two is a fascinating look at the author's 50-year journey from childhood to his adult years. It is a process of learning, fine-tuning, polishing, and perfecting the use of words. There are users like the publishing industry, on the relationship between authors, editors, and their publishers. Woiwode introduces his appreciation for authors like William Maxwell whose literary brilliance was discovered late, and how his editing skills display a knack for clarity and simplicity. On Tolstoy, the author notices a passionate fight for truth, and how Tolstoy displays his dislike for power and arrogance of rulers, by using his novels to subvert tyranny and abuse. There is Vladimir Nabokov, the Russian writer (Surin), who has great love for his mother and his patriotism for his country, and with a keen awareness of a world beyond this world. There is the reflection of the Russain martyr, Aleksandr Men's play of words and meaning of "martyrs who have lived" which contrasted sharply with popular usage of "martyrs who have died," whose writings point unabashedly to what it means to live for Christ.

Part Three is an exhibition of the power and versatility of words in the world of literature, ethics, faith, morality, human rights, aesthetics, beauty, science, writing, and free writing. What intrigues me in the final chapter is how the author gives a profound take on what it means to write unhindered, and unedited. In an A-Z framework of writings, he begins with a description of his inner thoughts while sleeping in the subway, his journey to meet a well-known editor, his observations of ordinary life going on around him as he makes the journey, and ends with a terse note about his essays that were written in one sitting, end up becoming the first story that a magazine has accepted for publication without a single edit.

My Thoughts

Who am I to review such a deep and insightful book by Larry Woiwode? Who am I to talk about the martyrs, the spiritual writers, and the many great writers of the world? At one end, I remain at a distance clapping away in amazement at some of the masters of words. At the other, I risk being ridiculed of trying to wear a holier-than-thou hat of a reviewer. Thus, I stand trapped between astonishment of a grateful admirer and trepidation of a critical reviewer. As an admirer, seldom have I come across a book that I take, turn over, and ponder at various points of the contents. It is one thing to be well read in good books. It is another to be well read in great literature. Larry Woiwode has given readers a glimpse of the world of how words can inject life into mundane matters, how passions can be set free, how far words can reach, and how words bring beauty out of ordinary life. The book concludes not with a thud but a ripple that creates waves of reflective moments. One of them is how we in the world have unwittingly edited life from authenticity to plasticity. It reminds me of how society in general, in a world that seeks perfection and polished work, often fails to acknowledge the beauty of the ordinary. If only we allow the ordinary to grow its best self, and minimize the editing of ordinary life, people will be less prone to wear the skin of others, and will be more willing to be themselves. One of the things I appreciate is Woiwode's reminder for writers.

"If you work as a writer or reporter you must meet each person with the grace of openness, as Jesus did, seasoned by compassion, rather than with a preconceived or judgmental outlook. You think you're speaking to an ugly thief or snarling shopping-cart collector when you may be entertaining an angel" (176-7)

If I must critique, I must say that this book may not reach a wide audience or pander to the wishes of the popular genre. Just like the way Woiwode refers to Marylynne Robinson's essay on science putting down religion, our world dominated by Darwinistic pragmatism will put down any creative attempt toward aesthetic beauty, especially if such attempts do not bring in bigger bucks or become a Youtube phenomena. No. Books like this will be a hard sell for a world addicted to fast facts and abbreviated communications. In fact, words that are hurried will tend to short circuit the natural and preferred progression of human development in the cultivation of literary and living beauty. Sigh. That's the world we live in. Yet, there is hope. Let those who have ears listen. Let those who have eyes see. Let those who are willing to pause periodically from the crazy mundane world, and to ponder, to wonder, and to appreciate life, through the world of words. For behind every use of word is a story waiting to be told. If only we take time. Beware. This book is not to be speed-read, but to be gently savoured. The essay format of the book will certainly help.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"Deeply Loved" (Keri Wyatt Kent)

TITLE: Deeply Loved: 40 Ways in 40 Days to Experience the Heart of Jesus
AUTHOR: Keri Wyatt Kent
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2012, (200 pages).

How do we better experience the practice of Lent? Does it mean simply fasting or refraining from certain things? Is it a period where we wear our somber looks everywhere we go? What about learning to walk closer with Jesus with the 40 days as an opportunity to prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter? The key point: Draw closer to God.

This gentle guide brings together many different spiritual practices, guided by several ancient and modern spiritual practitioners, as well as reflections of our typically busy lifestyle. The crux of the book is this. Make spiritual growth practices a deeply personal one. The disciplines of praying, reading, waiting, pondering, self-examining, and many more are not new. They have been adopted by saints of old such as Brother Lawrence, Thomas Kelly, the prophets of old, as well as modern writers like Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, John Ortberg, and others.

It is important to begin well, and Kent shows the way by reminding readers that we are first and foremost children of God. Our identity is not in terms of what we do or say, but in God accepting us as we are. We walk with Jesus knowing that He is the Master of the whole project called "Life." We slow down so that we can pace more naturally. Kent shows us gently the way to go through the day. We wake up with a daily reminder that God watches over us. We go through the day knowing the presence of God that is real, regardless of whether we feel God or not. We learn to praise and pray, adore and be restored to God, to be alone and yet not lonely, because God is with us. Self-examination is a big feature of the book. Following the spiritual practice of "examen," we resist the pressures of the world that tries to mold us to its image, and to be open to the movement of the Spirit, to transform us into what God wants us to become. Kent calls worry as the biggest distraction we often face. Using personal examples with her own relationships, as well as learning from the spiritual masters, Kent not just writes about spirituality. She practices it. It looks so simple that one may be mistaken that it is a light book. While the content is not heavy, the practice of it can be challenging. By spreading the daily exercises over 40 days, we learn patience and discipline. We learn to be intentional and to be sensitive to what God is saying to our hearts. At the end of it all, as we slow down to examine ourselves, as we open our eyes to appreciate the wonders of God in creation, as we remember the sacrifice of Christ, the biggest benefit we can gain is through the period of Lent, is to learn that we have been deeply loved by God. All the sacrifice, all the overcoming of obstacles, and all the spiritual disciplines that have been done, will be so worth it that we will want to do it over and over again. Not because we have to, but because we want to. Draw closer to God.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"The Way of the Wise" (Kevin Leman)

TITLE: Way of the Wise, The: Simple Truths for Living Well
AUTHOR: Kevin Leman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2013, (158 pages).

One popular question for people at different stages of their lives is to ask: "What is life all about?" That is usually about purpose. Other times, they will be asking about why they are doing certain things in life. That is a question about meaning. Still other times, they will ponder about where it all leads to, which is a question about destiny or a goal in life. Purpose helps us focus our lives. Meaning helps us understand the significance of our lives. Destiny enables us to establish hope for the future. How do all of these come into play in our present moments? This is what this book tries to do: To provide us some simple truths for living well, while on this earth. How many "simple truths?" Ten. All ten can be gleaned from Proverbs 3:1-6.

Leman shares about tumultuous early years in school that leaves him feel more like a drop-out or the odd one out of the school systems. At that time, he feels like he is of no use to God. It takes many years of trying to connect the promises of God and also to make sense of his own struggles. He summarizes them in ten principles to help readers learn from his experience so that they too can live well.

"True Purity" (Hayley and Michael DiMarco)

TITLE: True Purity: More Than Just Saying "No" to You-Know-What
AUTHOR: Hayley and Michael DiMarco
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2013, (190 pages).

Books in the Christian Living genre often have the same kind of message: "It's all about God, not about us." This book is no different. When it comes to purity, it is not about us doing or not doing certain things in order to earn our collection of purity medals. True purity never begins with us or ends with our accomplishments. True purity is started by God, sustained by God, and awarded by God. We are pilgrims on a journey watching how God does that, and when need be, to avail ourselves to be purified by God. Purity begins with God. It is God's work, not ours. For the DiMarcos, purity for us is a matter of the heart. How have we completely given ourselves over to God, his purpose, his desires, and his passions? The moment we fail to love God with our 100%, we are due for a spiritual tune-up.

The book uses metaphors like water and light to describe the journey to purity. Whether it is water that washes us cleran, or like light that shines into darkness, the work is God's, not ours. For our devotion, our love, our relationships, our future, and our everything to be pure, we need God's light to shine through the crevices of our lives. Five areas are covered with regards to letting our focus on God be pure.

Firstly, in the area of love, the authors touch on the subject of dating and love. Instead of asking ourselves questions like, "Can I do this?" or "How far is too far?" we ought to change our questions. More helpful will be to do some self-examination: "Why am I in this relationship in the first place?" In doing so, as we begin to realize that our goal in life is not mere happiness, but holiness, we will have a true perspective of living holy lives in our love relationships.

Secondly, in the area of community, the DiMarcos touch on friends and friendship. There are three categories of friends. Those who are more spiritually mature than us as well as our spiritual peers. These two categories, we can be influenced by or learn from. The third category, the less mature, the young, we can offer our help to encourage or guide them. The guiding principle for friendship is that it is meant to glorify God. They also provide tips on relationships with non-believers.

Thirdly, for purity in self, readers are reminded about society's overwhelming pre-occupation with all things "self." As a result, they worry, they get anxious, and they fear not having enough for themselves. The key transformation needed is to learn to turn ourselves over to God, and to give God our 100%. There is also some interesting insights on the rising use of social media, where Michael comments that social media is essentially about promoting the self. Thus, readers are urged to tamper their social media usage, and to make sure that they do not fall victim to the trap of self-glorification, and making use of other users in order to puff up or prop up one's popularity. When I read this, I feel less guilty when my social network numbers do not run in the thousands!

Fourthly, there are some good advice on cultivating the way we think, in order to bring all things captive to the thoughts of Christ. Our mind, because of the centrality of our person, often defines who we are. If we can focus our mind on the thoughts of Christ, and the purity of God, we set ourselves to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. We respond more readily to the Spirit. We reflect more responsively to God. The freedom to seek after Christ leads to pure peace, pure sight in God, and to recognize that one's freedom to pursue stems out of God's grace and not our efforts. That in itself is a liberating reason to seek God.

Fifthly, readers are treated to joyful journey of faith. It is energized by love, knowing that all of our living have been because of the cross of Christ. It clings on to God. It is surrender in God. Only when we acknowledge our own impure efforts, and to trust God for all works of purity, to trust that when the day comes, God will make it perfect.

My Thoughts

This is a deeply encouraging book. The single biggest benefit for reading this book is not just thinking it is all about God, and not about us. The single biggest benefit is to realize that when we orientate ourselves toward God, it is not us moving ourselves toward God. It is God gently guiding and pulling us closer to him. Love is freely given and freely received. When we apply this to faith, to our desire to seek God more, in our thoughts, actions, and words, we are on the path to true purity. The authors have also put up a helpful table on page 173 as a quick guide to leaning away from our self-seeking ways or weaknesses, toward learning more of God's ways and strengths.

I enjoy reading the personal sharing of the authors. They share about their deep struggles and how God has helped them through. It gives the book a very authentic feel, and readers will be comforted to know that the authors do not simply talk or teach about true purity. They are actually living it and experiencing it. Even today.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Doing Well at Being Sick" (Wendy Wallace)

TITLE: Doing Well at Being Sick: Living with Chronic and Acute Illness
AUTHOR: Wendy Wallace
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2010, (240 pages).

We have all experienced terrible illness from time to time. It can be a simple bout of flu, or a tummy ache. It can also be due to some accidental fall or a crazy migraine. Usually we get well. With medication, we can often deal with the symptoms and with rest, to let our bodies take care of the longer term healing. What if chronic illness hits us? What if the cherished recovery takes so long time to come, that we fear it may never ever come? What if the sickness is so bad that we not only struggle with pain and depression, we lose our hope to live? What if you get not just one sickness, but multiple problems plaguing you over and over again? By the age of 47, Wendy Wallace has gone through heart attacks, lung cancer, chemotherapy, lupus, arthritis, colon cancer, multiple surgeries, and several more ills. It seems too terrible to be even true, but yes. Wallace lived through it all and from the depths of her despair and the heights of her hope through faith in God, she has given us a book to share her journey with. In this book, she deals with questions like:

• Where and how do we find strength in our weakest moments? 
• What about the guilt that patients feel when they see their family members, loved ones, and caregivers suffer because of them?
• Where is God when everything seems to be going wrong?
• How can family members cope?
• What about cases when medical professionals make mistakes?
• What can we do to assist the healthcare given to us?

This book is soaked with the author's experience through her own physical ailments. Just seeing how Wallace was able to overcome the many struggles through illnesses from A-Z already humbles any reader. Yet, she points out that although she is a person with many illnesses, these illnesses do not define her. It is God who defines her. With that knowledge, she is able to develop an attitude of gratitude away from self-pity to other-centered; to spend whatever gifts and time she has wisely, instead of complaining about the things that she does not have. Readers will learn about the relationship with our caregivers and our families. Sometimes, it is our own family members who are having a harder time grappling with our own illnesses. The part about shifting our trust from self to God is soul warming. While humans tend to think short term, God is mindful of all terms. Whatever God does, is always for the eternal good. In illnesses, we learn what being broken and trusting in a more unique way.

The book also deals with how patients can relate to their doctors, even though some doctors are downright arrogant, to the point that their actions may endanger their very patients they are supposed to help. The key is to work together, and not totally (or foolishly) think that doctors are our saviours. They are not. They make mistakes too. By working with them, patients can take responsibility for their own health too. She even goes through a list of the different kinds of doctors who are specialized in very specific areas. Know what is an Otolaryngologist or Nephrologist? There is also a chapter on how to work with hospitals, and to be prepared with a medical list of essential information so that medical professionals can react rapidly to time-sensitive emergencies. The last three chapters of the book will be helpful to those who are going through pain and physical suffering. Physically and practically, Wallace shows us how to live with pain, from pain relief to self-care; from preparation to actual implementation; from moaning about our pain to trusting in God. Mentally, she gives tips on approaching life with a more positive attitude, one that is mature and life-giving not just to self but also to others. Spiritually, she shows us what she has done in her journey of faith and trust, meditating on Scripture.

There are many precious gems in the book.

• "Most medical personnel work extremely hard to keep us as healthy as possible. But they all make mistakes along the way, and we need to forgive them.."
• "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of what you already have."
• "One of our tasks in learning to live well is to learn the truths that will set us free to be well in sickness."
• "In all of life’s difficult situations, God often allows us to stew in these stages until we are ready to accept the fact that He has been in control all of the time."
• "If I had simply acknowledged that God was in control of my life and looked for His lesson in the situation, I would have moved more quickly out of my grief to a place of contentment. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen?” I should have been asking, “What do you want to teach me now, Lord?” I had no way of knowing God’s plan for my future, but I could have simply trusted that He had one that was being worked out."
• "We search for happiness through fame, fortune, serial relationships, and acclaim. Yet daily we read reports of the suicides of rich people, the painful ending of yet another celebrity marriage, or the downward spiral of someone who was once at the top of whatever game he or she played. The “saints and poets” Wilder writes about have the opportunity to “realize life” because they see their lives through God’s eyes. God clearly teaches us that “me first” always leads to despair, and the only important thing we do with our lives on earth is to love God and others."
• ...

If you are sick, or know someone who is sick, this is one book that you must pick up. Wallace covers a lot of areas, but one big area that will need more coverage is in the area of finance. As many societies around the world age, and with the costs of healthcare going up every year, chances are, financial pressures are going to impact our overall state of health too. Sometimes, the lack of money or the stress of it all only goes to make one more ill. Health is a big area of concern for many. In the Bible, healing is understood more of being made whole rather than just a specific area of cure. Healing is about the whole person, not just a discrete part of our body. This book, though not a full healing manual, points us to a wide variety of areas that we can pay attention to. Ultimately, there is a need for hope, that is regardless of positive or negative prognosis. Even if one has only a few months left to live, if one can make these remaining months count, that will be a life more well spent. A healthy person may have many more years to live, but if his life is without purpose or hope, without meaning or love, is that life a better one? 

Let me close with a quote from Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie."

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

Rating: 4.75 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.