What's your response to the resurrection?

Mike McKinley tackles a difficult question in his new book The Resurrection in Your Life: How the Living Christ Changes Your World (The Good Book Company, 2015). Far too many people are content to ask the question that the jailer asked of Paul and Silas, "Sirs what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). And since the 'story doesn't stop' McKinley invites his readers to ask the next question, what do we do now?

This book looks at the biblical events of  Luke 24 and Acts 1 and 2 and the response of the disciples - and more importantly the response of the disciples of today.

McKinley looks at the passages in question as a story. A story that as it ends leaves us wanted to see what happens next, and that is how the biblical story plays out. We're left waiting for the sequel, but different from other books, the sequel to the Bible as it was written is being played out in our everyday lives.  If you're not excited to see what happens next, it's time to read through the bible again.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a favorable review.

4/5

Pretty predictable stuff

The Ishbane Conspiracy (Multnomah, 2001) by Randy Alcorn and daughters Karina and Angela is the story of a group of teenagers. Need I say more? They’re struggling with faith, with lack of faith, with growing up and making tough decisions. And in the process, Prince Ishbane and one of his minions, Foulgrin are trying to lead them away from anything good that God might have planned for them in favor of bad choices. Youth group and youth pastors have to deal with underage drinking, pre-marital sex, accidental pregnancies, bulimia, depression, suicidal tendencies and dabbling in the occult. Stereotypes emerge, and are dealt with, and along the way, some evangelizing is done among friends. Teenage romances blossom and wither, in short a typical day in the life of a teenager.

The book is written in the form of a chapter telling the story, followed by a letter written by either Ishbane or Foulgrin, detailing their plans to derail God's (who they call the enemy) plans. The back and forth between the two was often a waste of paper – there was just too much of it.

As I read, I couldn’t help but make comparisons: there’s some good Alcorn common sense and theology, but Frank Peretti wrote some books about a youth group and some of the teenage angst that happens even in the supposedly ‘safe place’ of church. C. S. Lewis has already written about correspondence between a ranking demon and his protégé in Screwtape Letters.

The book is an easy read, not just for teenagers, but also for adults interested in what’s happening with a younger generation. I’m glad I read the book, but I don’t see myself doing much in the way of recommending it highly to everyone I know.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through a bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

4/5

ordinary isn't always ordinary

It would be nice if every Christian had unlimited assets with which to share the gospel. If everyone who darkened the doors of our churches had all the gifts required to bring the gospel to life for the unreached people in our neighborhoods, and then they were willing to use those gifts and those assets to further the kingdom. But the world doesn't work that way and the Church doesn’t work that way either.  It doesn't have to, it’s not expected to.

In Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down (B & H Publishing Group, 2015) Tony Merida points out in a compelling fashion how the Church of the 1^st century was made up of ordinary people. Ordinary people who managed to do extraordinary things for the King and His Kingdom.

This is a short book, easy to read, and full of valuable insights on how we ordinary people can do some pretty incredible things in the broken world that surrounds us. We don’t need to have a bank account the size of that of Bill Gates; we don’t have to be on the leadership team of a megachurch. What we need is to be aware of the grace that we have been offered, and to be willing to share it with someone else.

We learn to love, to share hospitality, to care for the needs of others, and are amazed as Merida show us that we ordinary people can make a significant impact on someone else’s eternity by doing some pretty ordinary things.  We read about the biblical basis for worship, for justice, and community, read about some ‘how to’s” and read examples of how other ordinary people are making ordinary work in their context, and also some of the results.

This is an excellent resource for a Bible Study or small group, and would be a great starting place for a sermon series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through a bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Definite A+