remember God falls short

Annie Downs, in her latest book, Remember God (B&H Publishers, 2018) tackles a question that many Christians struggle with on a regular basis: Why isn’t God answering my prayers? Oh, she may phrase it a little differently: Is God kind?, but we all know what she means. I pray, I talk with God, to God, listen to God, but my prayers aren’t answered. 

If God is so kind, good, and loving, how could He let me go on like this? I understand her question, I feel her pain, and I’ve been there myself. As have most of us.

I appreciated her insights into the question, I was glad that she has been able to come to grips with the reality that God is not a benevolent fairy godmother that grants her every wish. I was glad to read that even when it seems like God isn’t answering our prayers that often he is waiting for us to see things through his eyes, or that he is asking us to wait upon His perfect plan, and His perfect timing. Sometimes He is asking us to find peace in what we have rather than in what we think we should be getting.

Having said that, I had a difficult time reading the book. Not because the theology was off, not because I found her logic to be faulty, or her answers incorrect, but because the style of writing just doesn’t appeal to me. I could have been reading someone’s journal, and in fact page 149 starts with “this opening section is an actual excerpt from my journal during that season.’  Although I appreciate it when authors personalize their writing with some life events, having the focus be the life event, with a nod towards how that applies to the thesis, just doesn’t interest me.

In short, I guess I’m not part of the target audience for this book.

I received a copy of the book for being a part of the publisher’s bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review.

3/5

Running from Mercy

If you ever went to Sunday school, you’ve probably heard the story of Jonah and the big fish. And if you’re a fan of Veggie Tales, for sure you’ve heard of it. But, as is often the case, when we try to simplify things for children, a lot gets left out, and all too frequently we don’t make time as adults to go back and read the biblical account. And so we miss out on an awful lot.

                Anthony Carter has taken the account, rather than the story, and fleshed out what it means to be exposed to the God of Second Chances.  Running from Mercy: Jonah and the Surprising Story of God's Unstoppable Grace ( B&H Publishing, 2018)  reminds us that we are Jonah, and God is pursuing us, just as he did the Jonah of the Old Testament.  As Carter puts it: “The Bible is the story of God's gracious pursuit of rebels. It’s the story line of the Bible, It’s the message of Jonah.” 

And when God chases after us, we need to remember that He has an endless supply of resources available. He even orchestrated a divine appointment between Jonah and that giant sea creature. Perhaps some things happen by chance, but chances are God is involved, and we learn that regardless of how far we try to run, how hard we try to hide, God is relentless in his pursuit of us. If the gospel is not changing us, then it’s probably because we’re listening to a changed gospel. (p 106)

My favorite takeaway from this book is that mercy doesn’t run after the righteous, rather mercy runs to sinners (p 162). I am Jonah, and I love seeing where God is at work in my life, continuing to reach down in pursuit of me, regardless of the running that I try to do.

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

4/5         

Moments til midnight: If I only had a few hours to live

As I was reading this book, I was transported back in time about a half a century-give or take a few years. We all read the books in English class about important people, and then had to write an essay on what we would do if we found out we had only one day to live. Or what we would do if we were to be left sightless in 24 hours, or even what would we listen too if we were only going to have our hearing for another day or week.  Thinking back, I probably could have come up with something much more profound.

                Moments til Midnight: The Final Thoughts of a Wandering Pilgrim by Brent Crowe ((B&H, 2018) asks the reader to look at the last hours of the Apostle Paul, imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus, and his desire to share the good news of the Messiah throughout the known world.  But Paul’s essay on “what would you do with only hours to live?” is so much more complex than anything I thought of 50 years ago.

                Paul is well known for his comments on running the race set before him, and finishing well. And here we have some possible musings that the apostle might have made as he waited for his executioner to bring him from his cell one final time. Musings about the race that he had run, what he might have done differently, what he was proud of, what distressed him. And then Crowe adds snippets of information about the race that others are running, or have run.

                And reading about Paul’s essay on life, or the way that other people are running their races asks me to pull out the paper and pencil in order to rewrite my essay on what I would do if I knew I only had a few hours left to live.

                As a member of the publisher’s bloggers’ program, I received a copy of this book and was asked to write an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

                4/5

Basics for Believers: 5 simple things to remember

D.A. Carson is a prolific writer, and a good one. He is also one of the founders of The Gospel Coalition, the group which has re-issued his book Basics for Believers; the Core of Christian Faith and Life (A Study of Philippians). (Baker Books, 1996; repackaged 2018).

                 I was skeptical at first that this small book—only about 150 pages—could even begin to cover the basics, but Carson has done a remarkable job of simplifying the list of things believers need to know. And he came at the task from an unlikely perspective.  I often have people read John’s gospel to learn about Jesus as God, or perhaps chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew, or James’ letter to see how Christians should act. But Carson turned to the book of Philippians, a joy-filled letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison, to point out five important things for believers to focus on.

               

             Starting with chapter one of Philippians (verses 1-26), we see that we should “put the gospel first”.  In everything: no exceptions, no excuses. Much easier said than done!

                

              Using Phil 1:27 to 2:18, Carson shows why the believer should stay focused on the Cross, and with the death of Jesus as the standard, how we test our outlook on life and death. It’s certainly a different perspective than most people are used to.

              

            We can’t do it alone, and every believer is not called to reinvent the wheel. Based on Phil 2:19-thru 3:21, Carson says that we should emulate worthy Christian leaders.  This piece of advice seems simple at first, but think about it. Who gets to decide who those leaders are? We’re left to find the people who are living a Christ-like life, and to follow and emulate them. And sometimes we get confused!

                And lastly, based on the 4^th and final chapter of this letter, we are reminded to never give up the Christian Walk. Paul, even from prison continued with his ministry of sharing the Gospel throughout the empire. He didn’t give up, and neither should we.

          

                  As a member of their bloggers’ team, I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

                4/5

Little kids will love this one!

At this time of year we often think of Christmas carols, and among the most popular is of course, “Silent Night”.  But what if it wasn’t really all that silent?  When we go to church on Sunday morning, we know that we’re supposed to, at least at certain times of the service, be quiet.  But Jesus wasn’t born in a church—he was born in a stable; stables have animals, and animals make noise.

            In a delightful story The Silent  Noisy Night  (B&H Kids, 2018) Jill Roman Lord asks us to imagine what it would be like if it weren’t really a silent night, but because of animals, angels, shepherds, and even the townspeople  all celebrating the birth of a baby, it was instead quite a noisy evening.

            To help the imagination of your ‘littles’, there are wonderful, colorful illustrations by Kelly Breemer.

            This is one of the most fun Christmas books for 2-4 years old that I remember seeing.  I’m donating my copy to the children’s’ shelter at our local Rescue Mission.

            I received a copy of the book in exchange for a review, I was not required to write a positive review, but was instead asked for honest feedback. 

5/5

Fascinating Insight into the teachings of Jesus

Some things are classic and deserve a second look.  Two books by D.A. Carson were originally published separately in 1978 and 1987. Now The Gospel Coalition, in 2018, has decided to repackage the two books, and the result is Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: A Study of Matthew 5-10. Two Books in One. (Baker Books 2018)

            If you’ve spent much time in church, you’ve heard about the Sermon on the Mount, and probably heard more than one sermon based on one of the many shorter passages found within this larger one. It’s here that Matthew relates Jesus’s teachings on a wide variety of subjects including marriage, divorce, hypocrisy, Christian disciplines such as prayer and fasting, and how to treat others. But either the sermon is one that covers chapters 5, 6, and 7; or it’s a series so long that by the time you get to the end of chapter 7 you’ve forgotten everything you heard about chapters 5 and 6, as well as most of the beginning of chapter 7.  That’s what makes this book such a valuable resource. It’s neatly packaged and available for the reader to go back and refresh his memory about all the Kingdom attributes of which Jesus was speaking.

            

            And then comes the confrontation with the world. Two thousand years ago ‘religious people’ didn’t like being confronted with their sin. Today not many of us like it all that much either. Jesus’s teachings made him at once very popular with a certain group, but also very unpopular with another group of people. And this second group tended to be the powerful and influential folks in that society.

            

           It’s in the Confrontation that we are expected to recognize Jesus’s authority, and his authenticity. Carson talks about Jesus’s mission before going on to expound on how trustworthy and compassionate Jesus is, and then recaps how the very things that draw people to Jesus are also the things that tend to divide people.

           

              What was it the disciples said? “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (John 6:60, NIV)

            

            Carson, theologian that he is, may go a little deeper than the average reader is willing to dig, but the book is well worth the read for those that have the patience and willingness to be confronted with what Jesus has said about the Kingdom of Heaven

          I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a part of their bloggers program. There was no expectation that I would post only a positive review.

good advice for all males

For some time now I’ve heard that we live in a ‘fatherless generation’.  Boys are growing up with no male father figure, or at least no positive male role models. And then we wonder why boys grow physically and chronologically, but so many, well into their adult years, remain boys. When you’re not taught a specific way to do things, you learn piece by piece, and often those pieces become a jumbled mess.

All that to say that when I saw the title The Five Marks of a Man: Finding Your Path to Courageous Manhood by Brian Tome (Baker Books, 2018) I was intrigued. Nor was I disappointed when I got to read the book.   

Tome keeps it simple (in fact he even suggests that if you don’t like reading, you can get the main points by reading the introduction and then the first chapter of each of 5 sections). That may be the case, but my advice is to suck it up, learn to be a man, and read the whole book.  The chapters a short enough that you could read one or two a day over morning coffee.

Five marks: 1) men have a vision, 2) Men take a minority position, 3) men are team players, 4) men work, and 5) Men are protectors.

In short chapters, each with a title like “Boys are shortsighted. Men play the long game.” Or “Boys want to fit in. Men aren’t afraid to stand out.”, the author treats us to some ideas about the differences between men and boys—that is mature or immature males. He includes some personal anecdotal material that makes this the book that men, and boys, can relate to. He writes in an engaging style, and hits hard when it comes to the need for boys to grow up and become men.

Every ‘man’ who reads the book will immediately understand. The ‘boys’ will have to think a little longer about what Tome is saying. Many men will be glad they had someone to teach them these important lessons, while others will wish that they had had someone in their lives early on who was willing to invest in them, and help them avoid a lot of costly mistakes. Hopefully the men who read this book will be convicted of the need to invest in the life of one of those many immature males

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a part of their bloggers program. I was asked to provide an honest review, and there was no obligation to write a positive review.

4.5/5

a poignant story about a transformed heart (and person)

Jackie Hill Perry’s book Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been ( B&H Publishers, 2018) is the kind of book that many from the ‘Christian Community’ will love because they will read it and think that Perry is suggesting that God is going to make all LGBQT people ‘straight’, or ‘normal’.  And I imagine that many members of the LGBQT community will hate the book for the same reason. And of course all of them would be wrong.

                Mrs. Perry’s story is her own story, and she tells it well, starting with her family of origin, going on to her same-sex attractions and gender identity issues which blossomed into a full scale Lesbian lifestyle.

                But somewhere along the way, God got hold of her, and changed her heart. The change wasn’t easy, but God kept calling, and she kept responding.

                There were a couple of parts of the book that I particularly liked.  Miss Jackie Hill is now Mrs Jackie Perry, and she and her husband have 2 children.  She comments on the fact that this was part of her hear transformation, and not a plot to convince her that if she would ‘just get married’ that she would learn to be heterosexual.  (That does happen many times, but often those marriages end in disaster—it was never real in the first place). 

The other helpful part of the book, Part 3 Same-Sex attraction AND…., which the author states are intended to be a resource. She mentions that she has talked a lot about herself, and about God, but she also wants to include some practical tips for others. There are a lot of scripture passages that Jackie uses to help answer the questions that so many people have when friends or family members come out as members of the LGBQT community.

A poignant story that ends with transformation…and that’s what God is all about.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of their blogger’s program. I was asked to write an honest review, and there was no expectation that the review had to be positive

4/5

thoughts on "Who Sang the first Song?"

It’s harder and harder to find books in which the words and the illustrations are both exceptional, and are written/drawn for the same age group.  I think that Who Sang the First Song (B&H Publishing, 2018) by Ellie Holcomb, with illustrations by Kayla Harren, has some great art, but the words don’t seem as if they would be memorable for the intended age group (On Amazon, the Product details list the age range as 1-4, and grade level as preschool and up---not even sure that those two ranges match).

                It’s a cute story that asks a simple question: Who sang the first song? And then there are a lot of suggested answers, ending with the real answer. That as God was in creation mode, He also created the song. And that He created us to sing.

                I appreciate the thought behind the book, and really liked the illustration, but think that the 1-4 group will be much more interested in the pictures than they are the words of the story itself. I hope I’m wrong because we need more God-centered books for the pre-school group.

3.5/5

I received a copy of this book as a part of the publisher’s bloggers’ program. I was asked to write an honest review, and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Get Rid of that Clutter

I’m sure that if I were to do one of those silly tests that asks ‘what’s your elf name’, or ‘when I walk into your space, what’s the first thing I would notice’, the answer would probably involve the words ‘clutter’ and ‘books’.  I have good intentions of cleaning up the clutter, I really do, but then I look at the mess, and am immediately overwhelmed.  So a book about getting rid of clutter seems just like something I could use to advantage.  Of course I got the book The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life (Waterbrook, 2018), by Joshua Becker, several weeks ago, and it’s been cluttering up an end table in the living room since. One of Becker’s suggestions is that we find a better place for all those things we want to keep handy so we can grab them at a moment’s notice. If they’re stored neatly they are less of a distraction, and we can focus better.

                I thought for sure that I would learn a lesson when my siblings and I cleaned out our parents’ home a couple of years ago. The amount of stuff that they had accumulated after being in that house for well over 50 years was astonishing. I thought that I would start cleaning out our house as soon as we returned home. But the day hasn’t come yet. 

                Until, maybe, now. This book is written in such a way that I’m motivated to at least start the process. There is no shaming involved, but plenty of encouragement. Becker talks about the advantages of decluttering, and some of those advantages are pretty compelling.  Intimacy, less distraction, a sense of peace, having space to gather and talk, rooms being used for their stated purpose, not to mention the financial benefits that come with not having to buy every ‘latest and greatest’ item to hit the market.

                I also liked his approach to decluttering.  Take it as it comes, start with one room at a time (and he even lists areas in the house in order of how easy they usually are to declutter. Along the way he asks questions like is it needed or wanted. Does moving something help the room meet its purpose? He also offers hints like 3piles: keep, throw away, or donate/recycle.

                I started going through my closet (I know better, but Becker reminds the reader anyway to no try to declutter your spouse’s side of the closet). My wife asked what I was doing and all I could say was that I was reading a dangerous book.

                With winter upon us, maybe I’ll have some time to get through some more piles over the next few months.

                4/5

                I received an unedited proof copy of this book as part of the publishers ‘book launch program.  I was not required to write a positive review, just offer my honest opinion.

Creed II releases next week, but a favorite sports movie of mine is Greater

Interestingly enough, even though I’m not a big sports fan there are a few sports themed movies that do capture my attention. One of the few is a recent (2016) football movie called “Greater”. But it’s not just about football, it’s a story about faith, it’s a story about life and it’s a story about following your dreams. This is the story of Brandon Burlsworth, a wanna-be football player, who time after time was told he wasn’t good enough to go pro. 

From a young age Burlsworth wanted to play football, and not just play, but play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. There was just a couple of small problems: namely that he really didn’t have much of what football coaches were looking for. A lack of ability and skill definitely stood in the way of his reaching his goal.

But he refused to take no for an answer, and every time he was told he wasn’t quite good enough, he asked what he could do to get better. Even when the answer reeked of sarcasm, he took it at face value. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his dedication, which led him to do whatever was asked of him, and then add, so what’s next?

Sometimes it seems that everything is going against you and there’s nothing left to do but quit; but quitting was never an option for Brandon Burlsworth. He didn’t always have it easy at home, his dad was an absentee father who showed up occasionally and made promises which he rarely kept. His older brother wasn’t always available, but his mother believed in him. The other thing he had going for him was a constant faith in God which got him through one heartache after another. We have a generation of ‘fatherless children’ growing up, but here is a reminder that God doesn’t disappoint like earthly fathers tend to do on occasion.

            Throughout the film we see Brandon getting up earlier than his team mates, early enough to read from his Bible, and then to hit the practice field earlier than anyone else on his team. And he is also the last to leave. Every weekend he makes the drive home from college so that he can take his mother to church.

            What makes Brandon's faith stand out is not how he tried to prove that he had it, but the simple fact of how he lived it. As time went on the team members who made fun of him for his glasses, his faith, his weight, or any other reason, saw how he responded and started following his example.  They started going with him to Bible studies, and their lives changed as a result of his unwavering faith.

If you followed Arkansas football, you might remember the tragic end to this story:  "Eleven days after being drafted into the NFL and before he was able to sign the contract that would have changed the financial status of his family forever, Brandon died in a car accident on his way home. His death stunned the state: He did everything right, and yet he was snatched away before he and his family could enjoy the fruits of his labor."  But the legacy lives on through the charitable foundations founded in his name. Scholarships are given, and walk-ons are much more likely to play ball than was the case before Brandon Burlsworth refused to give up.

Brandon’s story was a testament to determination and the power of faith, and the power of family support.  I recommend you have some tissues close by if you watch this movie!

Creed II  is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of family. The movie, which stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone premiers next Week (Wed, Nov 22), just in time for your holiday weekend.

About The Movie (Synopsis)

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family's past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what's worth fighting for, and discover that nothing's more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can't escape your history.  The film releases in theaters on Wednesday, November 21.  #CreedII

Watch the TRAILER HERE

You can't put God in a box of your own making

‘Fess up!  You’ve tried to put God in a box, we all have. Some of the lucky ones figure out fairly quickly that it doesn’t work, while others keep trying, long after any reasonable person would have given up. Sadly, many people give up on God when He doesn’t meet their expectations, but the lucky ones, give up on their expectations before giving up on God.

                Luke Norsworthy tells his story of the struggles he faced trying to reconcile a good God, with the bad things that happen in our world. Not only the natural disasters, but the bad things that happen to people who are trying, to the best of their ability, to follow God, and walk with Jesus.  Someone once said that the good is the enemy of the best, and when it comes to faith, truer words were never spoken.

                In God over Good; Saving Your Faith by Losing Your Expectations of God (Baker Books, 2108) we are introduced to a way of understanding God that, because it asks us to think outside the box, at first seems to make little sense, but the further we travel with Norsworthy on his journey, the more we see that if we trust God rather than chase after what we think is good, our faith becomes stronger and stronger.

                The theology is all here, and it’s written in an engaging style that most of us can identify with. You don’t have to be a theologian or bible scholar to understand Luke’s thought processes. 

                Does it answer all the questions you might have about God? Probably not, but in the end, God is not someone or something designed to fill a box of our making, and there will always be things about God that we don’t understand. And if we understand that, our desire to walk for God strengthens.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a part of their blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review.

               5/5

Take the family to the Cross

There’s a lot more to family than we usually think. And if you grew up watching “Leave it to Beaver’ you were probably surprised when your family didn’t measure up to that of the Cleaver’s.  As Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. And in this insightful book on the family, Dr. Russell Moore addresses the best, the worst, and the in-between.

Theologically sound arguments coupled with personal experiences of pain and joy, and the everyday reality of family life is one way to describe The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).  It’s deep—I could only read a chapter or two at a time without having to stop and digest what I had read, but it’s also personable, and an easier read that some of Dr. Moore’s other books.

It’s easy to sum up: in this time when regular church attendance is defined as once every 3 weeks, and Christianity offer is nothing more than sitting in church hoping to be entertained by the music and inspired by the message, this book is a great reminder that a life with Jesus means taking everything—the joys and the sorrows, the good, the bad, and the ugly—to the Cross.

I received a copy of this book as part of the publisher’s bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed are my own.

4/5

Nutcracker and the Four Realms

     Sometimes, when you’re young, you see a movie, or read a book, and know that your destiny has just been sighted. Things don’t always work out that way, but one can dream. I grew up in upstate New York, so there were definitely times when it was cold and snowy. There was a pond behind our house, and during the summer we could swim, fish and chase frogs. But during the winter, that pond became something else. Frozen, it turned into another world, running and sliding on the ice worked for a while—and then I read about Hans Brinker and his silver skates.  

    A dream, coincidences, God moments, and a young boy getting an opportunity to be a hero. I knew that if I just had my own pair of silver skates, that I too could be a hero. Or a famous athlete, or an Olympic medalist. The world at my fingertips.

   I begged, I left reminders, circled skates in all the catalogs, wrote my letter to Santa, included a plea for skates in my evening prayers, and promised to be good. And then on Christmas morning, there they were.

    Skating wasn’t quite as easy as it looked, and I managed to spend more time sitting on the ice than gliding across it, but eventually I got the hang of it. I never got called to play professional hockey, my speeds didn’t qualify me for anything, and as a figure skater—well, let’s just say that my figure 8’s looked more like a kindergartner using a crayon to learn how to write, than anything done by a calligrapher. 

    But in my mind, I was the heroic Hans, living a dream, restoring the family, and selflessly allowing someone else to shine. 

    The magic of a dream: a boy, a frozen pond, a pair of used skates, and a big imagination. 

     And there’s another dream that we watch for every year: the magic of the Nutcracker, and this year, it goes a step further with the release of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

About The Movie (Synopsis)

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.  “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” releases in theaters on November 2.

you can watch a clip HERE

or watch the music video of Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo singing FALL ON ME

Seek and Circle Bible Battles

What a fun book! When our son was little, we used to spend hours with this kind of activity. It seemed he never tired of looking for the hidden objects, and he was always excited when he could find them faster than I could.

                Our favorite seek and find was from a popular kids’ movie of the day, but B&H Kids has stepped up to the plate, and now instead of pop-culture, we have a teaching tool that can help your little ones (approx. 4-8 yrs old) get interested in the “One Big Story” of the Bible.  Seek and Circle Bible Battles (B&H Publishing Group, 2018) introduces the ‘Armor of God’ as Found in Ephesians, chapter 6, and uses several battles found in the bible (Jericho, David and Goliath and others) as teaching points.

                Colorful scenes with a long list of things to find, including in each battle scene, one piece of the armor of God, will keep kids occupied and interested.  My big ‘complaint’ is that this book does not come with the dry-erase marker suggested for use and re-use.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their bloggers’ team. I was not required to write a positive review.

4/5

Faith for This Moment

Have you noticed that things have changed over the past few decades? Good, because most things have changed. And I say most, because it seems that the Church in the West is lagging behind.  In no way am I suggesting that the message of the Gospel has changed. I’m not suggesting that the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection has changed, or that the need for grace has changed. But for many churches, many Christians, we seem reluctant to change the way we tell the story, the way we do business, the way we live out our faith. Unfortunately, the way we share the gospel is received differently in every culture, every context, and in every city. So we need to know what matters and how to share that important stuff in the context of the culture in which we live.

                We wonder why we can’t just turn on the lights and unlock the doors on Sunday morning and have the sanctuary full. That might work in a city in the Bible belt; but what about some places in Utah where more than 90% of the population is Mormon? What about places near Detroit with large Muslim populations? What about cities with large Hindi or Buddhist populations? What about places like Portland, OR, which is considered to be largely unchurched?  And of course there are major population centers where each of these religious groups are represented. What works in one place, might not be effective in another.          

                And then along comes Rick McKinley’s latest book, Faith for this Moment: Navigating a Polarized World as the People of God. (Baker Books, 2018). I’ll be candid from the beginning here. I was not as enthusiastic about this book as I was a couple of the author’s earlier books. Rick is a dynamic speaker, and his experience as Pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland Oregon certainly gives him a lot to speak about, but somehow his excitement and enthusiasm didn’t come through as clearly in this book as it did in say “This Beautiful Mess” (Multnomah, 2006/2013)

                McKinley addresses such issues as Demonstration of faith. What are the distinctives of Christianity, and how do we manifest that faith? What does exile look like today—we know it was 40 years in the desert for Moses. What is the Babylon facing us today, and how do we respond? What does faithfulness look like when we are in exile? There are also several chapters devoted to different spiritual practices, and the book ends with an all-important chapter on loving the city: “Bless the City for the Sake of the King”.

                The title of the final chapter might seem a little misleading…it’s not just a ‘how-to’ chapter, nor is it just an exhortation or command, rather it sums up how the community is blessed when Christians know the history of the church, of the faith, and put into practice what we should have been doing all along.

4/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. The thoughts expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Faith fo

Welcome to Adulting

Probably there are some people who know what they want to do when they grow up, know what they want to be when they grow up, but I’m not one of them.  Funny thing though, I’ve never heard anybody say that they want to grow up to be an adult. People want to be a fireman, a millionaire, an actor, a pharmacist, or married with kids. But no one wants to get old, (other than be old enough to do (or buy) any number of things that do require you be of a certain age).

                But who wants to be an adult, with all that adulting entails? Often we don’t know what it means to be an adult. We’re not taught the basics in school, and in a lot of families, the parents haven’t learned enough about being an adult to teach their kids. Our youth need help.

                Jonathan “JP” Pokluda (with Kevin McConaghy) has written a guide for the next generation of adults, and for some of the previous generations who didn’t learn the lesson the first time through.  Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendships, Finances, and the Future (Baker Books, 2018) offers a series of lessons on what it means to be an adult. The readers is asked to explore issues like “Why am I here?” or “What is a good employee?” And of course there is a discussion about managing money, and learning that there are things more important than amassing a large amount of money that you can’t take with you.

                And learning to be an adult means learning to get along with people, and possibly marriage, so a chapter is dedicated to dating—what it is, and how to be successful. Of course as we get older we are also faced with our own immortality, and people with a strong faith background seem to deal better with the inevitable losses.

                JP isn’t afraid to share his own experiences on his way to adulthood, and many of the choices he made were perhaps not the wisest ones he could have made.  I appreciated his openness since it makes the lessons he talks about more believable. Because he has made some of the bad choices, he has a frame of reference that others might not have.

                Sex, drugs and rock &roll may seem like an enviable lifestyle, but in the end they lead us away from the life that God has planned for each of us.

                Welcome to adulting.

                4/5

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. There was no requirement that I write a positive review.

Holy Sexuality and the Gospel by Dr. Christopher Yuan

Several years ago I read Out of a far Country by Christopher Yuan. The book is a powerful testimony to the ability of Jesus Christ to break the chains which bind us. The subtitle says it all: A Gay Son’s Journey to God. A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope. I was definitely impressed with Christopher’s story, so when I recently saw this book come available as part of Waterbrook-Multnomah’s Book Launch Team, I jumped at the chance to read and review.

            Of course there is some information about the author’s background, he didn’t have a faith walk, and was in prison dealing with the consequences of a gay life-style, coupled with drugs. One day he picked up a bible (as he puts it he was bored and there was nothing else to read) But in the midst of his brokenness, God appeared on the pages of that bible, and his journey suddenly took a distinct turn.  And some of that new creation is described in this new book Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desires, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story.

            A lot has happened since picking up that bible and being convicted by the Holy Spirit. Dr. Yuan has several theological degrees and teaches at Moody Bible Institute. So although the book starts with a part of Christopher’s story and how it fits into God's grand story, this is not an autobiographical book. Rather it is a study of God's grand design for humanity.

            First things first. God did not give us all the laws and commandments to make our lives miserable. They are to help us live a better life than we might be able to if left to our own devices. And Yuan found that out when he was freed from a life of breaking many of those biblical commands. (It’s called sin!)

            There are any number of categories of sin, and the scripture covering them, and one is sexuality. In that group there are many more things that same-sex attraction mentioned, but that seems to be the one that many churches like to focus on. For me personally I was very glad that the whole focus of this book was not just one of the sexual sins mentioned in the bible. In fact there are a lot of other categories mentioned also. Which is fair. Sin is sin, and we have no right to assume that the sin God hates the most is the one that we’re not involved in.

            Instead of making a case for or against a specific sin, Dr, Yuan makes a case for treating sex the way that God intended it to be treated. A way of strengthening the bond between a man and a woman, and also a way to enable humans to obey the command to replenish the earth.  

            The title of the book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, might lead one to think that we were going to be subjected to an academic paper based on the Levitical Laws, with a few references to the books of Romans and 1 Corinthians. There is a bit of an academic slant which some readers might find a little daunting, but remember that Dr. Yuan is an academic. Although the framework of the discussion centers on sexual sin, the broader picture that is painted is of sin—period.

            All sin interferes with the relational aspect of knowing God, and by extension with knowing others. All sin interferes with getting along with God and with others. All sin gets in the way of living within the context of ‘God's Grand Story’.

            As an added bonus, there is a study guide at the back of the book. Over the course of 8 weeks, a few chapters at a time, individuals, or preferably a small group, can more fully explore the content of this book.

            As a member of the Waterbook & Multnomah Launch Team, I received an advance copy of this book. I was asked to write and post a review, but there was no expectation or requirement that it be a positive review.

            I enjoyed this book, but imagine that many readers would not enjoy it, because they won’t agree with the author’s stance on the topic

            5/5

are we loving immigrants and refugees like God loves us?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock and totally without access to any type of news media (including your social media where people post about what’s going on in the world, and their opinions about it) for the past few years, you’ve heard both sides of the arguments about immigration and refugees. Both sides and everything in between. And the battle gets pretty heated with one extreme suggesting that anyone who wants to come to our country should be allowed in, and on the other extreme, the group that would refuse entry to just about everyone.  Of course there has to be a center-ground, since except for the 100% Native American, none of us would be allowed to live here if the one extreme had their way.

In the midst of the rancorous and bitter arguments, comes a voice of reason. Kent Annan, has written a book which confronts fear mongering with facts, and presents a Biblical point of view on how we are to treat, and receive those who would like to be a part of the population of the U.S., and those who would prefer to return to their homes, but are prevented from doing so by war, famine, drought, or other things which most of us can’t even begin to imagine.

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us (InterVarsisty Press) has a scheduled release date of Nov 2018. Annan tackles the tough topics like why people are so against welcoming people from other places. He suggests that in many cases it’s because of fear. They’re nervous, they’re concerned about safety, and they don’t want people around who are intent on hurting others. But statistics show that these newcomers of whom we are so afraid are rarely the ones who commit the crimes.

This is a very readable book, with narratives of stories that Kent has experienced with people in or from many different places. And they are stories that should touch even the hardest hearts. But it goes beyond telling stories. There are reactions to those stories, there are personal experiences, there are statistics, and throughout are the reminders that we should be loving others as God loves us.

And above all this is a cry for justice. Justice God-style, rather than what often passes for justice in our 21^st century society. Justice which means that everyone is treated fairly, and given opportunities that are so frequently denied to those who don’t look like us, talk like us, or share a common culture.

At the end of each chapter is a “practice” exercise. These exercises invite us to learn to listen to the stories of our neighbors, learn to listen, learn to hear, and use those stories to help us get to know the people with whom we come in contact.

Although the practices are especially geared towards immigrants and refugees, for many of us, in our hundreds-of-friends-on-social-media-but none-in-real-life society, we could use the exercises to get to know the people in our neighborhoods who do look and talk like us, and who do share that common culture.

As we run our race called life, we can all use the reminder that life on earth is practice for eternal life in heaven where according to the Apostle John, there was “ a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9. NIV

            I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher.

            5/5

The Nutcracker is such an important part of many families' holiday tradition. And now just in time for the 2018 holiday season, comes "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms".

watch a clip Misty Copeland as the Ballet Princess

and here's a bit of behind the scenes. Watch watch here

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

Opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 2, 2018.

Directors:  Lasse Hallström, Joe Johnston

Producers:  Mark Gordon, Larry Franco

Executive producers:  Sara Smith, Lindy Goldstein

experience joy--regardless of your circumstances

We’re told over and over from the pulpit that Christianity means joy. And when things are going well, that’s easy to believe. But some days it’s hard to find the joy that we so desperately want to experience. Jason Hague had day after day that seemed devoid of joy, but finally there was a breakthrough moment, and even in the midst of difficult times, he is now able to experience joy. 

                Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer (NavPress, 2018) is the story of seeming unanswered prayers after the author’s world took a sharp turn when his son was diagnosed with moderate, and then severe, autism. Shattered dreams, difficult moments, and lots of questions, including a lot of “why me?”

                But in this case there was faith, a caring pastor, and loving friends willing to stand by and walk through the dark times. They celebrated the successes, and were supportive during the regressions. The author goes through the stages of grief, as he mourns what might have been, but he also grows in his faith, and learns to trust God. 

                There are a couple of main stories here, along with several supporting ones. On one hand, we have the story of Jackson, the son who one day is different, and with that difference brings a whole new set of trials. On the other hand is Jason, the author, the dad, now a pastor, who learns about autism, and himself as he learns what it means to parent an autistic child. 

                There is a quote on the cover of this book which says it all: “This book will help you see that God is still in your story—and that your circumstances don’t get to decide you level of joy.” ~ September Vaudrey.

                A tender story, full of love, laughter and tears. Have the tissues ready.  4/5

                I received a copy of this book as a member of Tyndale House’s bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review.

"The NutCracker" in Theaters Nov 2

just in time for the holidays.   
watch the trailer here

t’s hard to believe that it is already October and Christmas will be here in no time! We’re excited to be working on the beloved holiday classic story, THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR RELAMS that Disney is now releasing.

The film is in theaters November 2^nd and is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale “The Nutcracker.” THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS showcases the wondrous journey of Clara, who finds herself in the mystical world of the Four Realms, home to a host of eccentric characters and no shortage of surprises. 

It’s a story about one girl finding the courage to overcome her fears to help restore peace. We know this longtime beloved story will be a hit with families and a wonderful opportunity to re-visit this classic.

The film stars Keira Knightley (ATONEMENT, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN), Mackenzie Foy (INTERSTELLAR, THE CONJNURING), Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN, GOSFORD PARK), Morgan Freeman (INVICTUS, THE SHAWSHANK REDEPMTION) and ballerina Misty Copeland.

More about the film:  

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

The cast includes: Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Eugenio Derbez, Matthew Macfadyen, Richard E. Grant, Miranda Hart, Sergei Polunin, Jayden Fowora-Knight, Omid  Djalili, Jack Whitehall, Meera Syal, Ellie Bamber, Misty Copeland, with Helen  Mirren and Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by       Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston.