Why would anyone go to church Kevin Makins

Sometimes it seems that we do everything right, but things don’t turn out the way they should; at other times, regardless of how many mistakes we make, things turn out just the way we had hoped. It happens, in life, it happens in business, and it happens in church.  Sometimes even the least likely person in the room is the one that succeeds. We may not understand why, but we certainly like to analyze the situation; and when we do, sometimes we have to come to the realization that things turn out the way they do because God is in control, and He’s decided how things are going to turn out.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s what happened with Eucharist Church.

Kevin Makins got the idea that he was supposed to start a church. His church-planting associates told him that he was going about things all wrong, but he decided not to listen. If he followed their advice, this dream would be set back months, or even years. His recent book ? Why Would Anyone Go To Church: A Young Community’s Quest to Reclaim Church for God, (Baker Books, 2020) is the story of how some promptings from the Spirit led Makins to plant a church, and what has happened in the life of that church over the past 10 years.

 At first glance, I was confused by the title—it seemed like this was going to be an exposé of everything that’s wrong with the church, and why people shouldn’t bother. But instead I found a delightful reminder that regardless of her faults, the church is still THE place where people should be gathering. No she’s not perfect, but the church is still better than most of what’s out there for hurting people, for people who are questioning their beliefs, their lives, and their very existences. And given even the least of a chance, the church comes through with shining colors.

Makins book is filled with stories of people being transformed because of this little church, even when things weren’t going well with the church itself. Makins describes with a refreshing honesty and humility how God continued to work, even when he himself was trying to get in the way.

It’s a book full of lessons, of honesty, of candor and confession.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review

5/5

review of Derwin Gray's "The Good Life"

Ask 100 people what the ‘good life’ is, and there’s a good chance that you’ll get 100 different answers.  Pastor Derwin L. Gray (yes, that Derwin Gray, for those of you who recognize the name from NFL), gives us his take on it in his new book The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness (B&H Publishing, 2020).

And it might surprise you to find that the Good Life doesn’t come from fame as a football player, or riches from a multiyear contract. In fact, as Gray points out, the Good Life comes from things that are completely opposite of fame and fortune.

Take a minute right now to turn in your Bible to Matthew 5: 1-12. Go ahead, this can wait.  Spoiler alert, this is what is commonly called the Beatitudes, or the “Blessed Be’s”. You know, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”, and several other things that often don’t seem to make sense.  And then Gray tells us that if we suffer all these things in the beatitudes, that we will be happy, and it makes less sense. But there is one little part that explains his thought process, and it’s easy to miss—mostly because it’s fairly obvious. The word used here is often translated as ‘blessed’, but it also has the senses of ‘being in a state of happiness’. (Trust me, he has done his homework on this one.)

And so he walks us through the Beatitudes, and shows us what the ‘good life’ looks like from Jesus’ viewpoint.  It’s pretty counter-intuitive, but after a bit it starts to sink in, and I learned that true happiness (the good life) doesn’t come from people or riches, or fame, but rather from the posture of being in God's will and living life in a way that brings me closer to him.

Each chapter with a prayer, some reflection questions, and a few things to remember.

He ends the book by inviting the reader to copy his “happiness manifesto”, sign it, put it somewhere where it will be seen often, and then to live it. And then to help it all sink in (some of learn more slowly than others) he asks us to participate in a 30 day ‘happiness challenge’: each day for 30 days read Matt 5:1-12, read it slowly and carefully, and bask in the life style that provided Jesus so much happiness. You might find that happiness means something totally different than what you’ve been looking for.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review

4/5

REBORN by Clayton King

All too often I wish that there was a formula for introducing someone to Jesus. I usually don’t have much of an imagination, so it’s hard for me to make the jump from one place to the gospel. But I have to admit that reading Clayton King’s book Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything (Baker Books, 2020) has given me some ideas.

Kings recounts some real life experiences and juxtaposes them with passages of scripture. He points out how the people in the bible were reborn, how their lives changed after an encounter with Jesus, and he does so in a way that makes it fairly obvious that a hurting and broken person today and a hurting and broken person from 2000 years ago have so much in common. 

It was also pretty comforting to see how some people needed more time than others to get to the point where they were willing and ready to change.  Not everyone jumps at the first opportunity, sometimes it takes years of someone saying no before it finally clicks.  Jesus didn’t give up, and neither should we!

Afraid of sharing the Gospel? This book may just give you the confidence that you need.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review

5/5

Monsters. We all know them. Most of us hide from them, or run from them. Some of us still have to look in the closet or under the bed to make sure they’re not waiting for us. But what if there were another way to deal with them?

Pastor Luke Norsworthy suggests that there is, and that’s the premise of his book, Befriending Your Monsters: Facing the Darkness of Your Fears to Experience the Light (Baker Books, 2020)

Even though the monsters usually aren’t real, our fears are, and sometimes those fears are enough to paralyze us. I’m not talking about things like fear of heights or crowds, or walking through a really rough neighborhood, alone, late at night. Sometimes fear is a good thing—like pain, it can be a sign that something is wrong.  But Norsworthy writes about some monsters (fears) that keep us from being the person that each of us was designed to be. Simply put he writes about 3 specific “universal monsters”: ‘Comparison’, ‘More’, and ‘Success’.

For each of these monsters, the author describes the prop, the pull, the point, and the light. This is an easy read as we learn how comparing ourselves to others, thinking we need more, and falling into the trap of thinking that we are what we do hold us back, and make us afraid to move forward.

An enjoyable and helpful book

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review

5/5

the Passion of Men on Fire

What does it mean to be a man? It takes more than facial hair and a dose of testosterone. Especially if the goal is to be more than a male, but to grow into the man that you were created to be. A man who lives life to the fullest, and leaves behind a legacy. A man who has a passion for life, and is not afraid to chase after it.

Stephen Mansfield talks about fires of several types in his book Men on Fire: Restoring the Forces that Forge Noble Manhood (Baker Books, 2020). Small fires and larger fires, but they all matter little compared to the fire that he’s really talking about: PASSION.

He describes ‘the seven fires’ that define the passion for manhood that he hopes his readers will embrace: the fires of Heritage, Battle, Destiny, Friendship, Love, Legacy, and God in 7 easy to read chapters. Each chapter is full of examples from his own life and experience, and that of friends or historical figures. Each chapter concludes with a ‘battle plan’, and the starting point for the battle plan is to gather a ‘band of brothers’. Nothing new to those familiar with men’s ministry. But included in these plans are action items and questions that the brothers might want to be asking each other.

Although I hate to admit it, there are several areas where I could stand a lot of improvement. I want to be a better man, husband and father, and Mansfield may have just given me some ideas on how to get started.

If you already have a band of brothers, there may be some great tools in this book for you to use.  

This would work well in a men’s ministry setting, not with the goal of forcing the attendees to become a band of brothers, but encouraging individuals to develop that band (and there are some helpful suggestions included). Or you can read it like I did, on my own, and be nudged into the next level.

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review based on my perceptions and opinions of the book.

4/5

Agur; The List Maker

Perhaps you’ve prayed what is called the Lord’s Prayer and wondered about the words “Give us this day our daily bread”. This day? Daily bread? It takes me back to the Exodus story and the manna which the people of Israel were to collect each day.  And there’s probably some connection there, and a bit about obedience, but as I read Jay Payleitner’s book The Prayer of Agur: Ancient Wisdom for Discovering Your Sweet Spot in Life (Multnomah, 2020) I gained some new insights.        

The Prayer of Agur is actually found in Proverbs (30:8-9) where Agur asks for only his daily bread. And there are 2 reasons. If he gets too much he might start to think so highly of himself that he forgets about God, and if he has too little, he might resort to stealing and in doing so dishonor the Lord’s name. WOW! Why didn’t I see that before ( I read through the book of Proverbs every month, and have for 20 years.) Payleitner cuts right to the quick and makes it nearly impossible to miss.

He goes through this whole chapter of Proverbs, verse by verse with easy-to-understand, but often profound commentary on the passage. All in all it was a fun read gaining insight into the thoughts of Agur: “the list maker”.  And then thinking about how to use those insights to find my own ‘sweet spot’.

This is a short book that packs a lot of insight into a few pages.  There are questions at the end of each chapter, but I didn’t find them overly helpful. 

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review based on my perceptions and opinions of the book.

4/5

Anyone but Me, by Ray Comfort

Someone once said that the 2 things we fear most are public speaking and dying. I think we could add a 3^rd fear: sharing the Gospel.  There are probably a lot of reasons for that, but perhaps a main one is that we don’t know how. We don’t know how to present, and we definitely don’t know how to rebut the arguments, and we all know that there will be arguments.

So for those of us who go into panic mode at the thought of sharing our faith with someone—family, friend, or stranger—it’s nice to know that there are resources to help us. Ray Comfort has been in the business of telling people about Jesus for a number of years. He approaches people in the park, has written books, made movies, and has a YouTube channel where he posts regularly. In other words, he knows what he’s talking about.  And to make it a little easier for us, he’s written a book designed to shore up our confidence and help us to do our part to obey the Great Commission: Anyone But Me: 10 Ways to Overcome Your Fear and Be Prepared to Share the Gospel (Baker Books, 2020).

This book has 10 short chapters, and although he uses a lot of scripture throughout, a lot of his guidance seems to be based on a few verses from the book of Ephesians, which talk about the Armor of God.  Comfort tells us we should be loving, obedient, decisive, defiant, focused, prepared, truthful, practiced, faithful and prayerful. 

He often mentions how he uses the 10 Commandments to show people that maybe they are not quite as good and righteous as they may think they are, and he often refers to his YouTube Channel. But his biggest draw seems to be the dog in sunglasses that accompanies him on bike rides through the park

Although I like a lot of what Comfort has to say, I’m not sure that his technique is quite as easy for everyone to use as he seems to think.  Maybe after quite a bit of practice the masses would feel comfortable with approaching someone and immediately start talking about Jesus, but it’s going to take a while.  I would love to have that ability myself, but know I’m not there yet.  Comfort also has the advantage of an established YouTube channel, so he can ask people if he can interview them on camera, and he also invested several thousand dollars in gift cards, so if they say ‘no’ he can also give them a quick meal as an incentive.

This may be just the book that some people need to read to jump start their Kingdom work, but I don’t think that I’m in line to be the next Ray Comfort.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program.

The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

3/5

Get your mind right

If you asked me why I asked for a review copy of Get Your Mind Right: 10 Keys to Unlock Your Potential and Ignite Your Success by Todd Durkin (Baker Books, 2020), I don’t think I would be able to tell you. I’m mostly retired so I’m not really needing to read a lot about leadership to jumpstart or further a career. The cover wasn’t really anything that I found overly exciting, I’m not familiar with the author, and I’m not a football fan so the fact that a football player wrote the forward wasn’t a compelling reason. But I kept going back to the signup page, and finally said yes.

And I’m glad I did. (Although if I had realized that Durkin was a football player, I may not have bothered.) This is more than just another leadership book, although there are certainly a lot of would-be leaders who could benefit from it. This book is full of helpful advice for people wanting to live a healthy and fulfilling life.  Reminders about slowing down, eating healthy, exercise, contact with God, and the need for healthy relationships come through on every page.  

            Durkin is the owner of a successful business and he tells the story of how that came about to clarify things and to get his point across throughout the book. There were times when things seemed to fall into place, (sometimes despite his best efforts) and other times when getting to where he needed to be was a real struggle. But along the way he learned patience, and to wait on a timing that was better than anything he could have imagined.

            I’ve read other books by athletes and frequently was unimpressed. There was too much bragging about their exploits—on and off the playing field. Or a lot of whining about all the bad breaks they got that kept them from the championship title.  I didn’t find any of that in this book: setbacks were seen as opportunities to learn, and success is another reason to be grateful.

            So go ahead, get this book, read it, study it, and learn to ‘get your mind right’. You’ll be glad you did.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

5/5

on the way to becoming a good man

There’s really only ever been one ‘good man’, and even He said that no one but the Father is good. Yet men still want to be considered ‘good’ and most women and some men are looking for a good man, or think that they have found one.

            Of course, everybody seems to have their own idea of what ‘good’ looks like, so it’s pretty hard to define, but Nathan Clarkson has set out to give us a roadmap. The map is found in his recent book Good Man: An Honest Journey into Discovering Who Men Were Actually Created to Be (Baker Books, 2020) 

            

              The map takes us on the journey from who Nathan was or is to who he wants to one day be; along the way are 15 stops. Places with strange names like Adventurous, Devout, Heroic, Honest, Brotherly, Healthy, Emotional, Authentic, Romantic, Wise, Ambitious, Fighting, Simple, Servant-Hearted, and Committed.

            I’m not sure that I agree with all of Nathan’s conclusions, and I may have come up with a different list, but this seems to come from his heart. The lessons, failures, successes, heartbreaks and joys that he shares make for an intense read, or perhaps a painful one depending on how closely his experiences mirror yours.

            Whether you agree with his list or not, this book should give anyone looking for a good man some things consider while on that quest. And as far as being a book that guys should read, well, I think we all have some room for improvement. Why not learn from those who have gone before?

Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

4/5

Jesus' Elevator Speech

Everyone should have an elevator speech prepared: that short (imagine you’re in an elevator and only have from the 1^st to the 4^th floor to convince someone of something) presentation of the gospel, a new idea for the company, asking someone out on a date, generating interest in what you do for a living in the hope of getting a new client.  You’re probably not going to get everything in within that few seconds, but maybe it will generate enough interest that you get a later opportunity to talk in more detail about the thing that you’re passionate about.

 Paul Borthwick makes that case that the familiar words of John 3:16 was the elevator speech that Jesus might have used. He presents his case in a short and easy to read book Mission 3:16—God's One-Verse Invitation to Love the World. (BakerBooks, 2020)

Paul is a missiologist, that is, he is involved with Christian Missions. In that capacity he carefully breaks down the verse we know as John 3:16 into small segments and explains what it could have meant to believers some 2000 years ago, and what it might mean to believers today. All in the context of presenting the gospel, after the elevator speech of “God so loved the world…” has gotten someone’s attention which allows you the opportunity to discuss in greater detail.  And there is much more detail involved than just seeing “Jn 3:16” painted on someone’s forehead when they appear on the jumbotron at a ball game.

As a believer we’re called to Join God on His mission, this book is a great tool to help you share your faith.

5/5

a new kind of rebellion LOVE RIOT by Sara Barratt

Sara Barratt has written an interesting book calling teens into a relationship with Jesus that goes a lot farther than Sunday morning worship and midweek youth group pizza parties. Love Riot: A Teenage Call to Live with Relentless Abandon for Christ (BakerBooks, 2020) is geared towards those who know there is something missing in those safe and comfortable church gatherings that so many of us has come to know and love, precisely because they are so safe and comfortable.

Interestingly enough, during this time of protests and riots across the country, the blurb on the back cover starts with “It’s time for a revolution, a holy uprising, a love riot.”  As cities are going up in flames, stores being destroyed and looters making off with anything they can find that might be of value, words like revolution, uprising and riot are hardly the most comforting ones I can think of; but digging into the book gave me pause to think that these are actually, in the context of Barratt’s book, words of hope. If the current generation can accept this call, and bring about the kind of rebellion that Barratt is calling for, they would be no need for the kind of riots, rebellions, protests, and uprising that are currently making the news every night.

When we accept Jesus wholeheartedly and live as His disciples and followers, things change. Whichever generation changes the mindset of the culture, will change the world. 

They will truly be praying “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. When we truly pray that line, we’re telling God that we want to be a part of bringing about that heavenly kingdom, and asking Him to use us to make it happen sooner rather than later.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. I was not required to post a positive review, just an honest expression of my thoughts about the book.

4/5

New life in Christ

About 2000 years ago, Jesus told Nicodemus, a ‘Teacher of Israel’ that he needed to be born again, and he had questions about what that meant.  So where does that leave us today? We have many of the same questions, but we can’t ask Jesus directly what he meant.

                It certainly isn’t an easy question, and the answers aren’t always that clear, but because we told that we must be born again to enter the God's Kingdom, we have questions and we seek answers.  Steven J. Lawson has gone to considerable effort to try to give scripturally sound answers to that age old question.  I had questions before, and even after reading New Life in Christ: What Really Happens When you’re Born Again and Why it Matters (Baker Books, 2020) I still doubt that I could clearly express myself if put on the spot to answer the question of what it means to be born again.

Having said that, I have a better understanding, but still not enough to thoroughly explain it to someone else. But then, other than Jesus, I doubt if anyone can truly explain it.  But Lawson does a good job of hitting the major points.

This book is an interesting read for anyone who is really interested in going deeper into the subject matter, but if you’re looking for an ‘easy read’, you might want to look elsewhere.  If I were still active in pastoral ministry, I might use this book as a starting point for a sermon series, .

I received a copy of this book as a member of a bloggers’ group. I was not required to post a positive review.

4/5

Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: Great conversations starters

As parents, we have choices. We can choose to teach our kids the things that we want them to know, the things that align with our core values, or we can abdicate that responsibility and leave it up to the public school system, their friends on the playground, social media and the mainstream media, or ‘the world’ to have a major say in what they learn and adopt as their core values.  We have a choice: we help influence what will become their worldview, or we let the world play a major role in their decision making processes.

                And like it or not, their view of God and Jesus is going to be included. So the title of Natasha Crain’s book Talking with Your Kids about Jesus: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have (Baker Books, 2020) struck a chord.

This book contains 30 short chapters with discussion questions, and prompts for open discussions with your kids about Jesus. Who was He? Who is He? What about the miracles? How could He be human and God at the same time? What did He teach about Heaven, Hell, religion and the Kingdom of God?  What is it about His death that has fascinated scholars for 20 centuries?  Why can we believe that the resurrection happened? And what does it all mean? What is it about Jesus that truly makes a difference when it comes to our lives on earth, our lives in the Kingdom, and how does Jesus fit into the story of our salvation?

Although this book is meant to be a guide to help parents talk with their kids about Jesus, it could easily be adapted into a study for new believers, regardless of their age, they have many of these same questions.

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

4/5

Younique is not really unique

I was looking forward to reading Younique: Designing the Life that God Dreamed for You by Will Mancini (with Dave Rhodes and Cory Hartman) (B&H Publishing, 2020) because it looked like it might be a tool to help me decide how to spend my golden years. I’m retired, but not so tired that I’m ready to spend my days in a rocking chair on the porch, watching life pass by.  There is definitely a part of me that wants to make a difference in the time that I have left, and since its God that gives me that time, I want my life to honor Him.

I was hoping for something new, but I didn’t really find it. This is another book with good information about mission, vision, purpose, and goals. Much of the same stuff that I’ve read in a number of other books over the past 40 or so years. Yes Mancini presents it a little differently, but I found his plan burdensome and overly complicated.

In many ways it seemed as I was reading Younique that this was a management book with some scripture and biblical principles thrown in to offer a fresh appeal to ministry leaders. Although I didn’t check out the links that offered additional information on several things mentioned, I got the impression that to get the full benefit of Mancini’s plan for designing a new life, that I might need to purchase a membership, or buy additional materials.

In short, this book is not for me, and I would hesitate to broadly recommend it, although I can think of one or two people who would probably be willing to give it a try.

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

                3/5

the Sacred Chase

We hear a lot about having an intimate relationship with God.  We hear about it, and want it for ourselves, but often it seems like we’re stumbling in the dark, waiting for the electricity to come back on so that we can see where we’re going. We’re close, and want to be closer, but we don’t know where to go next, and how to reach the destination.  I wish I could say that this book offers a road map, and one that is much more accurate than anything Google Maps, MapQuest, or your GPS device has to offer.  But I can’t—for one thing that journey is an individual one, and we each have to find our own route, and secondly, I never got the impression that providing a detailed road map was the ultimate objective. 

                What the reader will find in The Sacred Chase: Moving from Proximity to Intimacy with God (Heath Adamson, Baker Books, 2020) is something much more valuable: a sense of what is available once the destination is reached, and the necessary encouragement to motivate you to set out on the journey. This is a reminder that there is more, much more, to Christianity than just going through the motions: church on Sunday, maybe a small group or bible study, tithing (or at least regular giving) are all good things, but without the relationship with Jesus, it doesn’t mean a lot—if anything.

                Adamson uses many familiar passages from scripture and illustrates them with stories from his own faith walk. I’ve never met the author, and I’m sure he was writing about himself, someone he knows personally, or about people in general, but I felt that he could have been writing about me:

“We become discouraged when our religious experience does not line up with God’s

good heart. Lacking identity, we develop a version of who we pretend to be, and we put

on a show at work, in front of our spouse, at the gym, on the golf course, at church, or in

the coffee shop. We are just terrified that people won’t like who we really are. in our pretension, we can even forget the truth ourselves. We can perform for the approval of others until we are unaware it is a performance.”

               

                Just being close to God isn’t always enough, we want to be next to Him.  It’s not too late to set out on your own journey from proximity to intimacy.

                The biographical info on the back cover says that the authors life was ‘changed dramatically when… he was rescued from a life steeped in drug abuse and the occult.  I enjoy that type of conversion story, so I was disappointed that some of those experiences weren’t included in this book.

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

4/5

eat, sleep, and save the world. Superheros wear many different capes

The successes of the Marvel and DC universes show that the world loves a superhero. You know what I mean, those people who seem so ordinary, until a crisis hits, and then out comes the cape, and they set out to save the world—or at least render the bad guy a lot less powerful than he seems at first glance. Maybe they don’t have the superpowers needed to save the world, but parents of special needs kids fall into the category of super-hero. At least in my book.

                In her latest book, Eat, Sleep, Save the World: Words of Encouragement for the Special Needs Parent (B&H Publishing, 2020), Jamie Sumner shares the world that she was charged with saving: that of her son Charlie, born with cerebral palsy and several other interesting ‘bad guys’.  This is a heart-warming story of how plans go awry, but how we can depend on God to help us through the toughest of crises, whether it’s a one-time thing, or it’s ongoing, and lasts for a long time.

                Sumner allows herself to be vulnerable—both as ordinary human and superhero—and shares her thoughts on the super powers that on a daily basis allow her to get through the crises involved in raising a special needs child.  The 6 super powers, and yes, they are available to all of us are simply as follows (because we all can’t fly or turn invisible): determination, hope, resilience, patience, laughter, and thankfulness.

                She devotes a couple of chapters to each super power, and in each chapter there is another person mentioned. Of course, we hear about Ant-Man, but the main person she mentions as an example comes directly from the pages of the Bible.  For thousands of years people have faced trials, and managed to overcome. Things didn’t always go as they planned, but somehow, they got through the bad times. Even when our human frailties are most evident, God’s grace and power are made manifest.

                I can only imagine what a blessing this book will be to the parents of special needs children who can find the time to read it, but beyond that, it seems that anyone else who reads it will benefit too. It just might help us to walk the proverbial mile in someone else’s shoes.

                As a member of the publisher’s bloggers’ program, I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, but it is definitely a joy to be able to do to.

                5/5

Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel

I’ve been there. I spend so much time thinking about something, trying to decide what to day, which way to turn, that by the time I’ve made up my mind, it’s too late. I’ve missed the opportunity. And then the next day I waste time beating myself up for not making the decision sooner.  You might resemble that remark too. With that in mind, Anne Bogel’s book Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop-Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life, (Baker Books, 2020) seemed to be just the book that I needed to read, especially during this time when I have way more time on my hands than usual.

                So what does overthinking look like? It depends. It’s different for everyone. It can result in paralyzing fear, an inability to make a decision, a fear of making the wrong decision, even a fear of making a right decision( and then have no excuse for not doing what you know needs to be done).  Maybe it’s spending so much time researching the proper course of action, that you don’t have time to do what needs to be done in a timely manner, and then it costs more in time , money or effort.

                Bogel draws on her own experiences and offers a lot of suggestions for different ways that our brain keeps our body from doing the things it needs to do.  Among her suggestions, are keeping a list of “to pack” things and use it for every trip. This avoids leaving needed things behind, and in many cases helps avoid overpacking.  Or how about making a decision once, and following it multiple times in the future.  Or designate a place in a room to start the cleaning/sorting/decluttering process, get that done—then move left to right.  Or how about this one—realize that some of your friends are really good at (and like doing) some of the things that keep you busy without accomplishing anything, and invite them to help you with that task.

                Simple suggestions that we might all have thought of eventually if we weren’t so busy thinking about what if? 

                Bogel writes with a very engaging style, and this book is full of practical tips, at least one of which will apply to almost everyone.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.  There was no requirement to post positive comments.

                5/5

dreams disasters and the faith to move mountains

Jesus once told His disciples that with faith the size of a mustard seed that they could move mountains (Matt 17:20). And Kristen Welch in her book Made to Move Mountains: How God Uses Our Disasters to Accomplish the Impossible ( Baker Books, 2020) shows us what this looks like in her world.  Welch is the Founder of Mercy House Global, a non-profit that has 3 maternity centers for pregnant girls in Kenya.  This book is the story of some of the mountains that she has seen God move since starting the ministry.

This is a time of uncertainty—the economic markets are dropping so fast and so far that we are entering recession or depression territory, COVID19 has claimed the first life in the county where I live, and statewide the number of people affected is growing exponentially. Top that off with an earthquake last week that ruined one of the buildings that shelters homeless people and also houses an addiction recovery program, and we’re looking at enough disasters to ensure that God has plenty of opportunities to accomplish the impossible.

But, as Welch reminds us, God uses people: people with dreams. And people who couple their dreams with faith can still move mountains.

What are your dreams in the midst of whatever disaster you may be facing? Maybe it’s personal, maybe it’s local, or maybe it’s a something happening thousands of miles away.  Rest assured that God, coupled with your faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is waiting to move your mountain.

I received a copy of this book as a member of the publisher’s bloggers program. 

With All Your Heart Christine Hoover

What’s keeping you from being all-in when it comes to following King Jesus?  If I had to pick one thing, it would be difficult, because there are for me, and I imagine most of us, several things that get in the way of total obedience. Christine Hoover in With All Your Heart: Living Joyfully through Allegiance to King Jesus (BakerBooks, 2020) runs us through some of the issues that she faces in her own life. They include things like anxiety. Image, control and escape, along with a few others. 

                People like to think they have it together; many churches are full of people who assume that they’re good Christians—that they follow Jesus whole-heartedly. But then something happens and they begin to doubt themselves and their intentions.  Sometimes that doubt is a good thing because it forces us to reassess where we really are in relationship to Jesus.

                And then we can look at those things that stand between us and Jesus. But there’s hope. Hoover includes a part III: An Unshakeable Kingdom. And as she wraps up the book, she reminds us that the Kingdom doesn’t rely on us: Jesus has already got it covered.

                There is some good information here, and in many ways the various chapters covering the ‘false kings’ hit on things that I might cover with people struggling with substance abuse issues.

                Having said that, I wasn’t overly impressed with the writing style. I kept trying to find the ‘living joyfully’ included in the sub-title, and for me, it just wasn’t there.

                As a member of the publisher’s blogger’s program I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion about the book.

3/5

Handle with Care

For many years I’ve heard about studies suggesting that when touch is missing, that infants fail to thrive. Lore Ferguson Wilbert, in her book Handle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry (B&H Publishing, 2020) suggests that adults need human touch also.

                That’s scary for so many people because of abuse, or allegations of abuse, but touch was an important tool that Jesus used frequently.  Ministry often calls for touch, anointing with oil, a hand on the shoulder during prayer, even a hug. Of course before charging into a hug, it’s a good idea to get permission—not everyone is comfortable with that level of intimacy: we don’t all speak the same ‘love language’

                Wilbert talks about the taboos of touch—some of which were probably started out a misguided sense of propriety. As she does so, she debunks some of the myths, myths which get in the way of ministry, and meeting basic human needs.  What are the appropriate boundaries when dealing with singles? Is all touch sexual?  She also talks about the benefits of touch—appropriate touch—in keeping people connected with humanity, and by extension, with God.

                I was impressed with Wilbert’s sensitivity when it comes to people who have been abused, especially helpful is the ‘afterward’: A Letter to Those Who Have Been Abused.  In the letter she acknowledges their pain, encourages healing, and apologizes for anything in the book that may have caused pain.

                This book is a helpful tool for people involved in ministry, and huggers and non-huggers alike could benefit from some of Wilbert’s insights.

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

4/5

the Basic Bible Atlas

A lot of people I talk with have trouble following the biblical narrative. And I have to include myself in that number. The maps that we use today have different names than those that were used in the thousands of years leading up to the time of Jesus. And by the time of Jesus, and then when Paul was making his missionary journeys, many of the names had changed again. 

                John A. Beck has put together the facts that we need to know to be able to follow God’s story.  He calls it a ‘basic’ tool; I think it’s much more than that. The Basic Bible Atlas: A Fascinating Guide to the Land of the Bible (Baker Books, 2020) is more than just a book of maps. Beck starts out by introducing the Atlas, and also the Biblical World.

Using geography as the basis for his explanation, Beck starts with the Creation and the Fall, and then walks the reader through the Exodus story, and into the Promised Land. Many of us have read the Bible, but get confused as to distances, and to the geographic areas that are being discussed. It doesn’t seem to matter if we’re talking about the Garden of Eden, the time in Egypt, Israel’s time in the Promised Land, the divided Kingdom, Israel’s time in Exile, Jesus’ travels, or the later journeys of Paul, and even the 7 churches of the Revelation.   

This book, with its chronological divisions is an easy to follow guide. For people who are visual learners, this is an invaluable tool.  Granted there is not as much information in this book as might be found in others, but for other than serious students ( think post-graduate level) of the bible, I think this is more than enough information, and it’s helpful that it is presented in an easy to read format, rather than an academic style which for most people would be just as confusing as if they were trying to piece things together for themselves based on the biblical text.

I give this a solid A.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for posting my own opinion on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review.

What's so Wonderful about Webster

Boys and girls, just like men and woman, are created in God’s image. Unfortunately, we don’t always see how that applies to us.  I think that children often confuse their lack of ability in a certain area for being less than. Less than their friends or classmates, less than a sibling or cousin, less than everyone else.

Human nature leads us to focus more on what we can’t do than the one or two areas where we excel.

So, What’s so Wonderful About Webster? By Stephen and Alex Kendrick, with illustrations by Daniel Fernandez (B&H Kids, 2019) (inspired by the film Overcomer) comes along at an ideal time.  We need to get over giving participation trophies, and acknowledge the unique person that God created each of us to be. A person with unique gifts and talents.

                Webster, in his opinion, has no talent, he’s a klutz, and probably reminds you of the kid who always gets picked last at recess or in gym class. And now it’s time for games day at school, it’s a fierce competition between classes, and Webster is convinced that he should be sick and stay home from school so he won’t be a liability for his team. 

                He goes to school and realizes that God has given him a special gift, a gift that ultimately helps his class win.  A delightful way to teach children that we’re all a part of God’s family, and each member of the family brings something special to the table.

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

                5/5

the Quiet/Crazy Easter Day

The Quiet Crazy Easter Day by Jill Roman Lord with illustrations by Kelly Breemer (B&H Kids, 2020) is a delightful book that is sure to capture the attention of the little ones sitting on your lap, or in a circle at your feet. The illustrations alone will hold their attention, and the combination of the Easter Story, the rhymes, and above all the animal sounds you’ll make turn this into a story that toddlers will want to hear again and again. 

                Not only does it share the Easter story, but it brings an awareness to the fact that all creation is invited to worship God.

                Besides all of that, as if that weren’t enough, one of the early games we play with our littles is asking what noise a cow or sheep or pig makes; so this is also a learning tool.  It won’t be long before the kids are adding the sound effects!

                I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not required to write a positive review.

                5/5

Mercy for Today by Jonathan Parnell

We often talk about God’s mercy, and for the most part, we’re glad that our God is so merciful, at least when it comes to not judging us as harshly as we deserve—and maybe we wish He wasn’t quite as merciful when it comes to some of the other people that we know.  Perhaps you have a definition of mercy, a few words that explain that we don’t get what we deserve: and that’s a good thing.

                But what does mercy really mean, and how does it factor in our own life, and even though God doesn’t charge us to be merciful to us, I think that He expects that out of gratitude, we will do certain things. Jonathan Parnell uses Psalm 51 as a starting point and talks about mercy.  His insights are found in Mercy for Today: a Daily Prayer form Psalm 51( B&H Publishing, 2020)

                Parnell starts the introduction by reminding the reader that God is merciful and because God is merciful, we can repent. He suggests that we 1) need to understand God’s mercy at the head level so that we can 2) testify of God’s mercy from our own personal experience.

                And as we learn to testify to God’s mercy we see  how we can praise God, for what he’s doing in our lives, and then we become willing to change, and hopefully actually do so, then we experience God’s presence, and start to live that life of joy that the Psalmist talks about, and which many years later the Apostle Paul would write about from his prison cell in Philippi.

                This book is a great help in understanding mercy as it’s recorded in Lamentations (3:22-23) It’s new every morning.

                As a member of the B&H blogger’s program, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review,

                4/5

We all listen to the urban legends and treat them as gospel. Some things have become such common knowledge in our culture, that to doubt them could be considered heresy. Unfortunately not everything we read about or hear about is true. Some things are ‘close but not quite’, and other things are downright lies. But if we hear something often enough it takes on the veil of truth.

                These lies spill over into all aspects of our life. And some of them are more believable than others. Daniel Im has written a book that exposes several of these lies. (You Are What You Do: And Six Other Lies About Work, Life and Love, B&H publishing, 2020)

                It’s bad enough when other people lie to us, intentionally or not, but it’s even worse when we tell ourselves those lies, and repeat them so often that they become truth. We believe our lies and live our lives accordingly. Unfortunately, when we’re chasing after the wrong things, we often forget God and the part that He should be playing in our lives.  We lust after possessions and status, we try to be the person that we think models success, and totally ignore the person that God has created each of us to be.

                As Im addresses these lies, he also refers us to the scriptures that exemplify certain Biblical truths.

                This book was a good reminder for me that God’s truths are eternal, but sometimes I prefer to listen to the lies that world tells me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. 4/5

When God Doesn't Fix It

Sometimes it seems like God must not be listening. Things happen and we ask Him to take care of those things, but nothing happens. He’s distant and instead of a reassuring voice telling us that He is going to deal with our problem, we nothing. God is silent, and we ask if He really cares.

Of course He does care, but as Laura Story, found out, sometimes we don’t get answered the way we expect.  She tells her story, the story of her husband’s devastating illness and a life that took some unexpected turns, in When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without. (W Publishing Group, 2015; Laura Story, with Jennifer Schuchmann). 

Sometimes we have to go though some difficult times to learn certain lessons, and many times those lessons are not the ones we want to learn. They are painful, but important lessons in trusting God, and allowing Him to work in our lives. We learn that through our struggles we learn to tell the stories that bring God glory.

This is a moving account of how God can use the most difficult of situations to draw us closer to Him, and how in the midst of sorrow, we come to realize how much God loves us, and that we can trust Him, even during the rough times.

There is an excellent study guide/workbook that can be purchased separately.

I would recommend this book for a study group. Women are more likely to respond to this book than are men

4/5

your church can be relevant in your community

People want to make a difference, corporations often want to be known for being philanthropic as much as for their product, and churches, while continuing to preach Jesus, want to be relevant. Relevant to the people they are trying to reach for Jesus, relevant in their local community, known for loving the least of these. 

Probably anyone, any corporation, or any church, if asked how they were doing in that regard would speak highly of themselves. But others might not have the same impression. So, Stephen Viars’ book Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry (Baker Books, 2020) seems especially useful and relevant for those churches wanting to be seen as relevant.  Don’t hear what I’m not saying: just because some of these programs worked for Faith Church in Lafayette doesn’t mean that they will work for your church of Anytown, USA.

But there are some great examples here of what can be done when there is a true heart for believers into your church to listen to a praise band, a sermon, and an altar call, oh, and let’s not forget 0hte offering. No, Faith Church invites the community to tell them what is needed, and then looks for a way to meet those needs. While meeting the needs, they look for other ways to share Jesus.

And it seems to be working for them. Viars documents some of the methods that have worked for them, simple things like opening the facility for use by groups and organizations that meet when there is no church activity happening  or offering classes that help people rise above the level where they seem to be stuck, and making sure that others are included in everything that the church does. Or how about a residential treatment program that happens to be Christ based.

There are lots of needs in every community and this book does a great job of sharing how you can discover some of those needs, and then perhaps find a way to color outside the lines, to think outside the box, and find a way to meet one of those needs in a way that also gives hope to the hopeless and provides opportunities to share the love of Jesus.

I participate in the publisher’s bloggers program, and received a copy of this book for that purpose. I was asked to provide an honest review.

5/5

sharing these DACA facts

This was written by Joy Mullins,  and shared to @theimmigrationproject, a page managed by Rondell Treviño.  More people need to understand DACA--- maybe then they wouldn't get their knickers all knotted up. 

15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About DACA

1. DACA recipients are not eligible to vote (and they never will be). DACA is not a path to citizenship or amnesty. It simply shields them temporarily from being deported because as children, they were brought to the US illegally by their parents by no fault of their own. It is not a liberal conspiracy for capturing future Democratic votes. They will never be citizens.

2. DACA recipients do not receive free healthcare, welfare, or food stamps. They are not even eligible for Obamacare or Medicaid.

3. DACA recipients are required to pay income taxes. It’s estimated that ending DACA would decrease state and local revenue by $800 million a year.

4. DACA recipients are not just "too lazy" or "too busy" to take the proper steps to legal citizenship. Once they are approved for the DACA program, they will never be eligible for any other legal status in the US other then "DACA," even if they are married to US citizens. As the law stands now, the option to become a US citizen will simply never be made available to them. The program is only meant to be temporary protection from the deportation and a chance to live, work and obtain a driver’s license legally in the US. Nothing more. It's not just a matter of walking up to a desk somewhere at City Hall, filling out an application and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

5. The United States is the only home they have ever known. If they were to be deported, they will be sent to a country they have never seen. Most often, their parents fled a country suffering from severe poverty, war, and oppression. Bringing their children to the US, even with the serious risks of doing it illegally, may have been their parent's only hope. Everyone wants the best for their children.

6. DACA recipients speak English and are very often bilingual. For the most part, they are completely assimilated in American culture. Some don’t even realize that they are not in the country legally until they are old enough to need a driver’s license and a job. It is often devastating and embarrassing for them to suddenly find out they are “illegal.”

7. DACA Recipients cannot have a criminal record and will be deported if they don’t adhere to some very strict rules. Saying they are “mostly violent criminals and gang members” is unequivocally false. If they screw up, they have to leave the country.

8. To be granted DACA status, they must pass a background check, have a clean criminal record and a high school diploma or GED. They lose their eligibility if they commit a felony or a significant misdemeanor. Even a regular misdemeanor, juvenile adjudication, or expunged conviction can put them at severe risk for eligibility. (And for the record, the incarceration rate of native born American citizens is 14% higher than DACA recipients as a whole.)

9. DACA recipients are not stealing your jobs. Over 6 million jobs remain unfilled in the United States, a record high, despite 90% of DACA recipients being employed.

10. The DACA program has been overwhelmingly successful for the US economy. It is estimated that the US would lose $460 billion dollars in GDP over the next 10 years without DACA. The majority of recipients buy cars, houses, and other large purchases that contribute to strong economic growth. We need them.

11. DACA recipients live in fear and uncertainty. They must reapply for DACA status every 2 years for the rest of their lives. It costs at least $500 every time they apply. It's a stressful, uncertain life considering they are penalized for something they had no control over.

12. Over 72% either have advanced degrees or are enrolled in higher education. Contrary to popular belief, they are not instantly rewarded a free college tuition. It is true that many opportunities are made available to them, such as scholarships, in-state tuition, and in some cases financial aid, to encourage them to further their education. A better education means they are better contributors to their communities.

13. DACA stands for the "Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals" program. They are also affectionately called "Dreamers" after the "Dream Act" which stands for "Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors." Recipients must be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and must have come to the US before reaching 16.

14. More than 1800 Governors, attorneys general, mayors, state representatives, police chiefs, and judges have signed onto a letter supporting DACA.

15. Sadly, DACA has been put on the chopping block by the Trump administration and its future looks bleak. Donald Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, as well as Fox News, Brietbart, and other Right Wing "media" outlets are successfully leading the way on stoking serious fear about DACA to the American public. Not only are they trying to end DACA, they're trying to end several other LEGAL immigration programs and laws. They want to hand pick what nationalities will be considered for immigration to the US. Call your representatives today and let them know you insist on the DACA program to be continued.

Please feel free to share widely!

Sources:
Pew Research "Key Facts About Unauthorized Immigrants Enrolled in DACA" September, 2017 Cato Institute. Immigration, Research and Policy Brief, August 2017 Center for American Progress October, 2016 Newsweek “DACA by the Numbers” August, 2017
CNN "DACA Myths Debunked" October, 2017 CNBC "DACA Deportations Could Cost US Economy More Than $400 Billion" September, 2017 CNN "DACA Dreamers Immigration Program Explained" October, 2017