good overview of issues that Christians need to discuss

There is so much going on in the world today, that it’s pretty hard to figure out which side of the argument you’re on. And it’s especially difficult for Christians who have to balance the gospel, the laws of the country, and wanting to be on the side of social justice.  Pastor Tim Keller recently tweeted the following: “How do Christians fit into the two-party system? They don’t. The historical Christian positions on social issues don’t match up with contemporary political alignments.”

                And it almost seems that Bruce Riley Ashford might have been thinking somewhat along those same lines as he wrote Letters to an American Christian (B&H Books, 2018). Ashford is a professor of theology and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, so one can’t help but enjoy the whimsy as this book is shaped in the form of letters to Christian, a young college student and a new believer, who has written to a professor asking for help sorting through things of this crazy world in which we live.

                Although Bruce, as the professor signs his letters, leans decidedly to the right on political issues, he bases his convictions on scripture rather than emotion or “fake news” as the press frequently gets called. And unfortunately, it seems the majority of Washington politicians, on both sides, tend to rely on rhetoric and emotion to make their case. After all when you have rhetoric, emotion and public opinion on your side, why worry about the facts.

                But as Ashford correctly points out, in the post-modern, post-Christian, post-truth culture in which we find ourselves today, there is still a voice of reason to be heard. So we read about hot-button topics like the relationship between religion and politics, the relationship between Christianity and culture, religious liberty, Roe v Wade, free speech, the role of the Supreme Court, gun rights, same sex marriage, immigration, environment, and the list goes on.

                Each of the issues addressed in this book merit several volumes on their own, so I am greatly appreciative of the condensed version provided. I consider myself a moderate, leaning toward the right, so I for the most part agreed with Dr Ashford. Having said that, I am also grateful that he often presented a synopsis of the other side so that Christian could look at both points of view and make up his own mind.

                I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a brief look at some the topics that are burning up the airwaves day after day.

                This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a review. My review is submitted as a part of the publisher’s blogger’s program. There was no requirement or expectation that I would write a positive review.

                4/5

CREED II coming to the big screen in November

for all you fight fans, here comes the next installment. Adonis Creed, son of Apollo Creed gets his chance in the ring

WATCH THE  trailer here

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.

Genre: Drama

Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Director: Steven Caple Jr.

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, Andre Ward, Florian "The Big Nasty" Munteanu, Dolph Lundgren, Russell Hornsby Writer: Sylvester Stallone

Writer: Sylvester Stallone

Producers: Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton, Sylvester Stallone.

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Guy Riedel

Distributor:  MGM, Warner Bros. Pictures

SMALLFOOT --in theaters on Sept 28

Books are a passport to adventures and to the world, and although I can experience the world vicariously through other peoples’ accounts, those same books have always stirred desires to see the world for myself. We’ve been to the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India. We’ve seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris, St Peters’ in Vatican City, and the remains of 12^th century monasteries in Spain. I've been to rug markets and camel Rides in Morocco along with The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and important religious sites in Palestine. That might be enough for some people (or too much) but every trip just makes me want to travel even more.

                There are so many places yet to be discovered. What is there besides cold and ice at the South Pole? I want to see Santa and the reindeer and elves at the North Pole. Who wouldn’t want to go to The Shire, and meet some of Bilbo Baggins cousins, and perhaps be there to celebrate a eleventy-eleventh birthday celebration, or perhaps meet elves and dwarves?

                But more realistically speaking, carnival in Rio, swimming with sharks while diving along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and a photo safari in Kenya are high on the list. But for now, I’d really like to visit India again, and go through some of the National parks, game reserves, and Tiger Reserves.

                For the record, I’m not a fan of zoos, but the idea of seeing some of the magnificent animals in their natural habitat fascinates me. What an experience it would be to step out of the fast paced world of a large American City, fly into another metropolis, and hours later, be in the middle of the beauty of God's creation, where busy freeways, and people rushing to do something that they hope will fill an emptiness in their soul just don’t exist. The idea of watching tigers basking in the sun, stalking prey, roaming and marking their territory, or watching rhinos or elephants in their natural territory starts my heart pounding. This would be a freedom like I never get to see in the big cities, or even small towns, where it seems like every day another construction project is starting.

                Excitement, coupled with peace and tranquility, and the sense of adventure that comes with experiencing something that until I’ve actually seen it seems like something out of a mythological story, or an urban legend. Everybody knows it’s there, but nobody has actually seen it.

                And that’s why I’m looking forward to the movie SMALLFOOT which opens in theaters on Sept 28. We’ve all heard of the Yeti, the abominable snowman and big foot, but who has seen one? Yet we keep looking, and from time to time reports surface of an actual sighting.

                Now turn things around. Welcome to the world which is populated by Yetis, and the urban lore says that somewhere there are creatures with small feet, whose body is not covered with long shaggy hair, and who are pretty small compared to the Yetis. These creatures happen to be human beings, which the Yetis call a smallfoot. Everybody knows that these creatures exist, but no one has ever seen one. But certain Yetis keep looking, and every once in a while there is a report of an actual sighting.

                I’ve been following the twitter and Instagram posts, and this movie, with a wide range of well-known people voicing the animation, looks like a fun movie for the entire family.

            Here’s a Synopsis: 

 An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

                “Smallfoot” stars Channing Tatum (“The LEGO® Batman Movie,” the “Jump Street” films) , Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Common (“Selma”), LeBron James (upcoming “Space Jam 2”), Danny DeVito (“The Lorax,” Oscar nominee for “Erin Brockovich”), Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), and Yara Shahidi (TV’s “Black-ish”).  It debuts in theaters on September 28.

And when you watch the trailer, you'll be excited for this film too. Watch it HERE

Some things you should know about Spiritual Gifts

To be honest, I’m not much of an expert on the topic of Spiritual Gift. Better put, I don’t know much about them at all. I didn’t take a class on the gifts in Seminary. Nor do I remember talking much about them in the classes that I did take. Sure, they were mentioned in New Testament Survey classes—you can’t read Paul’s letters without reading about the gifts, but it was never a major focus.  I’m not even sure that we took a spiritual gifts survey in seminary, although I have done a couple of different surveys in different bible study/small group settings.  In seminary, though we took a psychological profile, which was probably meant to determine suitability for the ministry. What I remember about that was that careers I should avoid included the military and sales. I took it after retiring from the Air Force, and then working in a number of sales positions, for several years before God's call on my life got so strong that I could no longer ignore it.

                All that to say that I was intrigued by the ‘teaser’ for Spiritual Gifts: What They Are & Why They Matter by Thomas R Schreiner (B&H Publishing, 2018) and I requested the book, hoping that there would be some information that might help me 1) develop a clearer understanding of why my spiritual gifts are, and 2) be able to use the information to help members of the congregation understand their gifts, and how they can use them to help in the church. 

                Suffice to say, the book is not what I expected. There are some well thought out arguments, but he makes well thought out arguments for both sides. I was rather surprised to read that he is a cessationist (believing that the NT gifts, at least some of them, ceased after the death of the Apostles) but then he suggestions that other theologians who think differently than he does, may have a better understanding of the material. There’s a lot to be said for humility, and graciousness, but it also sets the stage for the reader to think that the author isn’t convinced of his position.

                Usually when I read a book that tends to be of a persuasive nature, I expect the author to try to convince me that he is correct in his premise, I just didn’t get that sense here. There is good information presented, for both sides of the argument, and I got the feeling that I was being invited to choose a side, rather than to understand the topic as the author does.

                I’m grateful for the information, because as I stated earlier, I need to better understand the topic of gifts; but I’m not necessarily a fan of the way it was presented.

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

3/5

is everything missions? are we all missionaries?

How does your church do missions? What do you think about missions? are you a missionary, or missions oriented, or missional? in  their small book, When Everything Is Missions by Denny Spitters and Matthew Ellison (Bottom Line Media, 2017) the authors make a compelling case for understanding what God (through the Bible) says about missions, before trying to attach or claim a label--either for yourself of for someone else.

Certainly gives me food for thought, as I try to lead a church into a next season of thinking about missions. 
the 'Great Commission' of Matt 28:19-20 is repeated frequently in our local churches today, but very few people in those churches are aware of the other sending passages, or the fact that God didn't suddenly decide while Jesus was in the tomb that he should think about telling a dozen men to go spread the news. The mission mandate has been around since the Old Testament times. 
Confused about the role you and your church should be playing in the mandate to make disciples of all nations? Read this book!

let's all be thoughtfull

For some strange reason people tend to like people who are just like them, and in doing so, they (we) miss out on some of the best that God has offered us.

                Thoughtfull: Discovering the Unique Gifts in Each of Us (by Dorena Williamson, Illustrated by Robert Dunn, B&H Kids, 2018) takes an unexpected twist that helps us to see why Jesus told his followers that to enter the Kingdom, they needed to become like little children.

                Ahanu wins a prize in school, and his friend Joshua is eager to congratulate him. But then Joshua hears something on the bus that makes him a little mad, and a lot sad.

                This story is a lesson in how to deal with bullies, and also the importance of seeing each of God's children as exactly that: a child of God.

                This book belongs in every pre-school and elementary school library.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a part of their bloggers’ program.

Definitely a 5 star book.

Jesus Revolution: Lord, do it again

I grew up in a college town, but still wasn’t ready for hippies. Yes, even in upstate New York, we had heard of hippies. After all, we were only 220 miles from Woodstock; I was 17, and getting ready to start college, but never made it to the festival. Still, when the word came that a group of hippies were actually going to be nearby, it was big news, and a lot of people, me included, went to where they were camping to get a look at this new phenomenon. Make love, not war; flower power, long hair on men, the music, the clothes, everything about it was different from what I had grown up with. Still it fascinated me, and the fact that they were doing drugs, having sex without the benefit of marriage, and living in communes made them seem even more exciting. Forbidden, but exciting.

                And out of this group of misfits and outcasts, at least according to polite society, came the Jesus Movement. It seems like all that free love and flower power wasn’t filling the void that so many people were looking for. They were looking for something to answer the deepest questions of their souls, and not getting the answers in the nightly news reports about crooked politicians, or an unpopular war. They weren’t finding the answers in the staid churches of their parents: churches where the ladies were dresses, hats and gloves, and the men wore a coat and tie. Barefoot or sandals, bright colored tie-dye shirts, and bell bottoms, or maybe togas, just weren’t appropriate for such a solemn occasion as a Sunday morning worship service. Even the music preferences were so different that this new generation couldn’t understand why anyone would want to listen to dirges played on an organ. Peace, Joy, Love were the words of the day.

                And in the midst of this Cultural Revolution, a young man of 17, dealing with a dysfunctional homelife, involved with drugs, and trying to find his way in the world, stumbled into a different kind of worship experience and fell in love with Jesus.

                Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again (Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn, Baker Books, 2018) tells the story of Calvary Chapel, of Harvest Christian Fellowship, how a generation turned back to God, and yes, how God can do it again. 

                I grew up and had my own identity crises during the same time frame, it just took me a little longer to get my act together than it took Greg Laurie. This book is not only a wonderful stroll down memory lane for people like me, but an amazing chronicle for those who were born too late to experience it. Woven among the stories of what was happening at the time, are story after story of how God was at work among a most unlikely group of people. 

                With what is happening in the world today, perhaps it’s time to start praying as if we expect to see God respond.  To start praying that most dangerous of prayers: Lord, do it again!

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

                5/5

Time to choose

I like the concept of Choosing the Extraordinary Life: God's 7 Secrets for Success and Significance by Robert Jeffress (BakerBooks, 2018) but as I read, I kept feeling that there was something missing. I can’t quite put my finger on it, just a feeling.

Additionally, especially in the early chapters, even though this is supposed to be lessons learned from the Prophet Elijah, I kept thinking that I would like more Elijah and less Jeffress later on in the book, it seemed that he addressed both of those concerns, but there was still more of other people, and not quite enough Elijah.

Having said that, there are definitely some nuggets of wisdom in this book: a reminder of the idolatry that we still practice—not stone of metal figurines—but things like money, jobs and relationships; or how Elijah knew to turn to God for the answers when no human could ever hope to answer the question.

And the secrets themselves are simple things that all Christians should already know: things like discover your purpose or wait on God's timing. Things like step out in faith, learn to handle bad days, and develop a prayer life. We should already know them, but as is often the case, we need frequent reminders of what we already know.

There are certain things that we can choose for our lives, but often there are choices made for us, and except for the rare individual, those choices tend to define us or at least influence our future choices. Most of us, if we could truly manage it, would, I’m sure, choose the extraordinary life. However first we have to learn that the extraordinary life may not be based on job, money, possessions, relationships, or success, but rather on learning to be content with what we have, even if we are striving for something else.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of the blogging program.

4/5

I'd Rather Be READING something every reader will relate to.

Sometimes I get a book because I’ve read other things by the author (not the case this time). Or I like the cover (also not particularly true for this book). Or the title screams out, “Me! Me! Me! I’m the book you’re looking for.”  And that’s what happened this time. Sometimes I’m disappointed, but with I’d Rather Be READING: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, (Anne Bogel, Baker Books, 2018) I’m glad I listened to that impassioned cry.

                This is not even the type of book that I usually like, or would instinctively look for in a library, bookstore, or an online retailer. But Bogel’s anecdotal accounts of what makes for a serious reader all hit home. So many of the chapters resonated with my reading life, that if I didn’t know better I would think she was reading my mind—or had somehow conspired to steal my intellectual property.

                The best way for me to describe this book is to call it a series of vignettes, short accounts that give us a glimpse into the mind and heart and soul of a person who is passionate about reading—and all other things BOOK.  I read it in one afternoon, and while reading kept recognizing not only myself, but also some of my reading friends.  The major dilemma? Who gets to borrow it first?

                A thoroughly delightful account of what life is like when your passion is books.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of their blogging program. There was no expectation that I would be required to write a positive review.

                5/5