Devotions for worshipers by worship leaders

Daily devotions are an important part of worship, so a devotional written by worship pastors, leaders, and professors has a certain appeal. Phil Barfoot has drawn together over 100 of his friends and acquaintances, all of whom fall into those categories and asked them to contribute to this collection.

The daily devotions in New Every Morning: 365 Days of Worship, (B&H publishing, 2019) follow the standard format: a verse, a couple of paragraphs showing how it can apply to a believer’s life, and closing with a prayer.  One extra in this book is the inclusion of a couple of questions or statements designed to help the reader reflect more deeply on what has just been read.  Barfoot also states in the preface, that the readings for each Wednesday and Sunday include some thoughts aimed at worship leaders and their teams.

I found the selection of passages to be an interesting, but pretty appropriate, collection. Each passage leant itself well to a discussion of worship. Having so many different contributors makes for an interesting read. Trying to read all the devotionals for a week in one setting would be confusing because of the difference in writing styles, but as a daily reading plan, it works.

I would have liked to see a list of scripture references, because I think that there are some things that would be useful for any pastor in sermon prep, but without the list of references, those things might be hard to find at a later date.

As a member of the publisher’s bloggers program, I received a copy of this book in exchange for posting a review. I was not required to write a positive review.

4/5

lots about planning, little about the living

I’m retired, but, as I like to tell people, not tired. I have a couple of part time jobs, and like to go to the gym, but some days it seems like something is missing. So of course, the title Reimagine Retirement: Planning and Living for the Glory of God (C.J. Cagle, B&H Publishing, 2019) caught my attention—big time.  The planning part is in place, although there are some things that I could have or maybe should have done differently, but the living for the glory of God part is something that I don’t feel is totally in place.

There is a lot of good information about planning for retirement, investments, where to live, life insurance, wills and estates, but info and suggestions for living for God’s glory is sparse.

I was disappointed, not with the information about planning for financial security, which was very helpful, but by the lack of information on what I was expecting.

I participate in the publisher’s bloggers program, and as such received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review.

2/5

American Pastor's faith helps him survive 2 years in a Turkish prison

Pastor Andrew Brunson, serving as a missionary and as pastor in a church plant was arrested by the Turkish government—accused of being a spy. While millions of people around the world were praying for him,  American government officials, including at one point President Trump, talking with representatives of the Turkish Government asking that he be released, Brunson stayed in various Turkish prisons for about 2 years. 

God’s Hostage: A True Story of Persecution, Imprisonment and Perseverance (by Andrew Brunson with Craig Borlase, Baker Books, 2019) is the story of what Brunson went through due to whatever was going on in someone’s twisted mind, perhaps thinking that holding a non-threat would be a good bargaining chip.  Brunson bears his soul as he talks about how his faith was challenged, and how he came to fully rely on God.  His faith helped him to preserve his sanity during an insane time, but also caused him to realize that often being ‘called to pick up our cross and follow’ means a lot more suffering than we might have expected.

Although the story itself is compelling, the way it was told didn’t produce in me the passion that I was expecting. It seemed to drag at times, and it was difficult to feel the anguish of Brunson, and of course his wife, who stayed in Turkey and did all she could to be able to see him as often as possible.

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

4/5

52 weeks of bible stories to change your child's life

A few months ago I reviewed a book called “Epic”; it had 40 chapters of stories covering the grand themes of the Bible. It’s in the style of a graphic novel and is geared for the 8-12 age group. Today I am pleased to take a look at another book by the same author and illustrator, Aaron Armstrong and Heath McPherson.  Epic Devotions: 52 Weeks in the Story that Changed the World (B&H Publishing Group, 2019) is also written in the style of a graphic novel, with the same target age group.

                Each chapter or devotion is structured in the same way, and the “how to use” is found at the very beginning of the book. There is a key scripture verse, followed by the entire applicable passage and a summary of what happened in the particular passage. Then there are some action items to help you apply what you have learned, some questions for discussion (especially helpful for parents or grandparents who may be helper the younger children with the book, and finally a memory verse.

I think this is a good selection of ‘Bible stories” to include in this type of book, and the eye-popping illustrations will hold the attention of most children.  All in all a great way to introduce young readers to the Bible and to the ‘Story that Changed the World”.

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

a lesson on boasting

This is another ‘slugs and bugs story’ by Randall Goodgame, with illustrations by Joe Sutphin.

Maggie and Morty became members of the Society of Extraordinary Raccoons, and learn a lesson about boasting. The Society of Extraordinary Raccoons: on Boasting ( B&H Publishing Group, 2019).

  The two young raccoons are definitely problem children, always causing trouble and trying to stay out of trouble, but along the way they get tired of their life of mischief and mayhem and start to follow Jesus. Like all of us, there are still moments when their actions speak louder than words, and they have moments when they fall back into their own ways.

The issues discussed here is boasting, and the friends learn that boasting might make us feel better about ourselves, but it the process it hurts someone else’s feelings.  With the help of a older and wiser member of the society, the youngsters learn a valuable lesson from Matthew, chapter 6.

The rhyming works better for me than that of the previous book in this series, and the illustrations are once again enchanting and captivating.

My main concern with this book is that it feels flimsy—at times I thought that the binding would break after just a couple of readings,

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger’s program.

4/5

Hope, because God's not done with me yet

Everyone gets discouraged from time to time, and for much of the population those times may be longer than for others. Discouragement, like depression, can lead to a rapid downward spiral from which it may be hard to recover, but there is hope in the gospel.

Discouragement leaves us feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and sometimes worthless. The past paralyzes us, the present often disappoints us, and the future scares the snot out of us. But Jason Meyer has found answers in his easy to read book Don’t Lose Heart: Gospel Hope for the Discouraged Soul. (Baker Books, 2019).  He calls it “Hope” I might have gone for the play on words, and called it “Encouragement”. Either way, there are answers to be found in scripture,  Whether the discouragement and disappointment is relatively minor, or particularly horrible, God knows all about it, and is at work in your life.

                I found the examples to be appropriate, and helpful, but the conclusion really says it all: “God’s not done!”  Our God is a living God, and He is at work in our lives, even if we don’t recognize it. Just ask Joseph, when he was in prison, or Daniel in the lion’s den. He was at work when Pharaoh was oppressing the Israelites, when Saul was persecuting the early Christians, and when Herod was killing baby boys. Ask Sarah about God being at work even when she was way too old to have a baby, or Mary, a young virgin, used by God to give birth to the Messiah. 

                God wasn’t done in their lives, and He’s not done in your life either.  As Meyer asks each of us to consider, “What will our lives look like when God fulfills His plans and finishes His work in us?” It’s gonna be great and you don’t want to miss it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of a bloggers’ program,

4/5

it takes what it takes to find God Recovered by Robby Gallaty

Sometimes you read a book and can’t help but wish it was you that had written it. Sometimes it’s because of the writing itself- the beauty of how the words are put together, and sometimes it’s for the experiences that you can relate to which are narrated in those words. Other times it’s just because of the message of hope that is conveyed, a message that so many people need to hear.

Robby Gallaty is a pastor and the author of several books pertaining to leading and growing a church., I’ve read and enjoyed some of them. But his latest book—Recovered: How an Accident, Alcohol and Addiction Led Me to God (with Rob Suggs, B&H Publishing, 2019)—is one of those books that I wish I had written. The words are put together in such a fashion that I was drawn deeply into the story. Much of his story, changing names, dates, and places, could be my story, and there is definitely a message of hope for those who are struggling with addiction.

Many people see addicts and alcoholics as the stereotypical loser. Broken family, generational poverty, low IQ, influenced by gangs and all sorts of undesirables. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Gallaty’s family was and is involved in his life, they lived a comfortable life style, he’s intelligent and well spoken, and had good influences in his life—many of which he chose to ignore.

As a functioning addict, Gallaty was able to maintain the important relationships in his life. He was a successful at a number of jobs, and made friends easily. But he was involved in an accident, and the pain pills that he was prescribed led him down a path on which he could have gotten lost, with no hope of being found.

But God was at work in his life, even before he knew that he was lost. This book tells the story of how a young man became ensnared in the trap of addiction, and how God found him.  As you read the book you become aware of how Great a God we have, One who can take the most unlikely of candidates, very broken man, and restore him to wholeness and then use him to impact huge numbers of people through his books, his preaching, and by telling his life story.

I’ve already recommended this book to several people who are in recovery and struggling with the idea of a Higher Power, God who could love, save and restore them regardless of what they have done. I also serve as a chaplain for a recovery program, and I see this book as an added-value resource which can be used to demonstrate key concepts.

Definitely a 5-star rating                                                                                                                                                                

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

Adorning the Dark: Maybe I'm more creative than I thought

But I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I can’t paint, can’t sing, dance, or play an instrument. I’m not a good writer or speaker. How can God use me?

Like most of the world, I have doubts about where I fit into the grand scheme of things. I worry that my efforts won’t be good enough, but try anyway only to prove myself right. I’m convinced that I don’t have what it takes, but am also desperate to prove to myself and others that if only I put in enough effort, something good will result. Sadly, I always seem to give up long before I’ve been able to force myself to put in enough effort.

And then I read Andrew Peterson’s book Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling and the Mystery of Making (B&H Publishing, 2019).  There was something about this book that inspired peace; I’m not sure exactly what it was, but I kept reading, waiting for the spell to be broken—but that just didn’t happen. One of the great mysteries, I suppose, of how God’s creation works. We’re called to be in community or relationship—with God and with others. God has a plan for each of us, and He calls us into that plan and, since we are created in the image of God, get to exercise a certain creative power. Your creative power won’t be the same as anyone else’s, and that’s okay. Take what you have, make the best of it, and become the you that God is calling you to be.

                                                           

That doesn’t mean that we can’t study someone else’s mysterious makings, quite the contrary, we should study what others have done. Peterson gives several helpful hints for how to maximize our creative powers. Study the things we like and the things we don’t like. We should create for ourselves, for others and for God. We should give up and never give up, be content with what we have done, but not give up on making it even better. Do it alone, but never forget to invite others into your creativity.  All these contrary opinions may not seem to make sense, but if you read the book, and ponder the wisdom found in the pages, things start to become much clearer.

I was so intrigued and fascinated by the authors writing style that it took me a while to realize that what he was saying was just as powerful as how he said it. I actually, after reading several chapters, went back to the beginning of the book to see what I had missed: it was a lot. And I have the feeling that if in a few weeks I were to pick up this book and read it again, that I what find a lot more wisdom.

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.

5/5

the insanity of sacrifice isn't really insane

A few years back I read a book about a certain type of insanity and was smitten by the author’s candor and writing style.  I’m usually not a fan of devotionals, but in the case of The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional, by Nip Ripkin (with Barry Stricker) (B&H Publishing, 2019) I quickly decided that I would make an exception. There are absolutely no regrets.

These devotions are based on people that Nik and his wife know, and events that happened to them, many of which happened when they were serving God in remote locations, where it must have seemed insane to be willing to sacrifice so much, until you realize that it would be even more insane to refuse to answer the God of all creation who is calling you into His service.

Here we learn about raw grief and bitter persecution, and come to understand that as strange as it might seem at the time, it truly is a loving God who allows certain things to happen, and then turns what seems like our darkest moments into proof-positive of His love.

And after hearing about God and His glory, on day 90, when it seems like we should be hearing something about God’s love for us, and how because of that love we can survive whatever comes our way—just as Ripken and so many others have done, we’re jolted into the reality of our faith, that just as Ripken and so many others have done, we too are being called into the insanity of sacrifice so that others may come to know Jesus.

As part of the Publishers Bloggers’ Program, I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive blog.

5/5

let's learn about shapes

Get your littles thinking early on, and they’ll be way ahead when they start school.  Colors, the family, but it’s important to teach them shapes also. And Which Shape Should I Be? by Pamela Kennedy with illustrations by Holli Conger (B&H Kids, 2019) may be just the place to start. 

                For each shape there is a little rhyme, along with a picture of the shape, and then several shapes with instructions to find the right one.  The vibrant colors and whimsical drawings will delight any child, so learning is a joy, not a chore.

                But there is also a life lesson here. As the child learns about different shapes, she also is taught that people are different shapes also, but that’s okay, because that’s the way God made each of us to be.  Instilling this lesson early will hopefully cut down on bullying later, and hopefully kids will learn that they don’t have to resort to extremes to get to what they think is the perfect body, because they’ll realize that they already have the perfect body for the individual that God created each of them to be.

                Designed for baby through 4 years old.

                As a member of the publisher’s blogging program I received a copy of this book, with the expectation that I would post an honest review.

                4/5

Narrative Apologetics: not an easy read for the typical layperson

I love stories. Everyone has one, and I enjoy hearing them. A person’s story gives me insight into who that person is, and what drives or motivates them. And from the perspective of sharing the gospel, your story tells me where you are on your faith walk, and gives me a place from which to start.

Alister McGrath, in his book Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith (Baker Books, 2019) writes about the use of stories to explain your faith. He draws heavily from the works of C.S. Lewis as well as J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” for examples of how extra-biblical stories can play a part in sharing the Gospel. And he also draws from the biblical accounts of the Exodus, (the hope of deliverance); the Exile, (Where do we really belong?); the Christ, (Rendering the love of God); and the Kingdom, (what do we really desire?).

I read through the book fairly quickly, because I didn’t take the time to head to the back of the books to refer to the several hundred footnotes. I would have liked to have seen more examples of practical applications, so this is probably not the book for a casual reader. Having said that, it would probably be useful as a textbook, or even as the basis for a Sunday School class, or a small group that wants to learn how to be more effective when it comes to personal evangelism efforts.

There is some useful information to be found throughout, and in chapter 6, dealing with the meaning of life, the reader is invited to ask questions such as “who am I”, “do I matter”, “why am I here” and “can I make a difference?”.   And when we are able to answer those questions, we are well on the way to developing a world view, worthy of any Christian.

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

3.5/5

great illustrations, story line lacking

I’ve read a previous book in the “Slugs and Bugs” collection and thought it was a delightful way to engage small children and teach them about Christian values. So I was eager to take a look at the The Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society ( Randall Goodgame, B&H Kids, 2019)

                Eager, but disappointed. Yes there are valuable lessons about giving, and sharing, but I had a hard time reading this as a rhyme, and it didn’t seem to be much of a story. 

                Once again I feel that this is geared to a younger audience than the stated targeted age group, and that’s because of the illustrations by Joe Sutphin which are whimsical and fun. Small children will enjoy the colors and the friendly-seeming, fun-loving raccoons.  Older kids, probably not so much,

I struggled with a rating for this book, but because I liked the illustrations opted to give it a 3/5

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

should convince the most skeptical of skeptics

From a practical standpoint it seems to me that there are two types of people in the world: those who admit that they have or have had doubts about Jesus and the claims that He made about Himself, and those who are lying about never having had a single moment of doubt. Let’s face it, some of those claims are pretty outrageous.

                John S. Dickerson is one of those who had doubts, and so he set out to see for himself what was really true about Jesus.  As an investigative reporter, he is well qualified to look at these claims, and then decide for himself about the validity of the claims.  The result of that investigation is his latest book Jesus Skeptic: A Journalist Explores the Credibility and Impact of Christianity (Baker Books, 2019). Spoiler alert:  Dickerson is now serving as Lead Pastor at Connection Pointe Christian Church in Indianapolis. This skeptic investigator found enough evidence to convince him that Jesus existed, and that his impact on the world continues even today, 2000 years later.

                I particularly enjoyed his comments on Jesus’ continuing influence. Most people are forgotten within just a short time after their death. Sure sometimes we still study them in history books, but a decade after leaving school, even if we still recognize the name, we don’t often remember what they were famous for. But Christians, taking on the mantle of Christ, have been preeminent in the fields of science, medicine, education, and even instrumental in bringing about the end of slavery.

                There are close to 500 endnotes, which normally would scare me, but they are not long detailed, explanations of a single point. When Dickerson cites the ‘primary evidence’ he wants to make sure that the reader can go check it out for himself. This book is fairly easy to read, and is full of fascinating facts about Jesus and the impact He had and, still today, has on the world.

                There’s enough here to convince even the most skeptical of skeptics. A must read, and must share book.

                I received a copy of this book as a member of the publisher’s blogger’s program; thoughts are my own, and there was no expectation or requirement that I would post a positive review.

4.5/5

Bet on Talent, Dee Ann Turner

Recently at the gym where I work out, three new trainers came on board. I’m used to working out with trainers who have been there for a while, so there was a noticeable difference in skill levels. I’m not sure that I would have hired all of them, and in conversation one day, a comment was made that has stuck with me. “The person who hired them saw something in them that you’re not seeing”.  So, I went to that hiring official to see what it was. And it was simple: they’re teachable, and willing to learn. We have a culture that we want all of our trainers to embrace, and if they come in convinced that they already know how to do things, we have problems.

                As I read Dee Ann Turner’s book Bet on Talent: How to Create a Remarkable Culture that Wins the Hearts of Customers (Baker Books, 2019). I began to understand. This is Turner’s story of over 30 years at Chick-fil-A. After she had applied more than once, someone took a chance and offered her a job. She started working in the corporate office, and worked her way up to become the first female vice president of the company.

                The book is full of practical tips for creating that culture for your business that leaves your clientele so satisfied that they want to come back again and again. Although most of the anecdotal it material comes from Chick-fil-A, she also gives credit to other companies from whom she has learned.

                But the bottom line is that it pays to bet on talent. Bet on talent, and then mentor them and train them to fit the company culture. There’s a big difference between compliance and commitment, and Turner offers several examples of how a culture of commitment is more beneficial to your business than is a culture of compliance.

                Although it may seem that this book is geared to CEOs and franchise owners, there are certainly lessons that anyone in management can and should learn. I plan to pass on this book to a friend who was recently promoted to a management position.

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

                4/5

welcome to adulting devotional

About a year ago I read Jonathan “JP” Pokluda’s book Welcoming to Adulting. Recently, he’s come out with a follow-up: Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide: 42 Days to Navigate life. (Baker Books, 2019).

This easy to read book is a 6 week devotional, a few minutes a day to read a short passage, and then some things to think about, an action step, and a short prayer. And since this is Christian in nature, day 7 of each week is considered a day of rest.

JP covers any number of things that young adults (actually adults of any age) have to deal with—sometimes occasionally, sometimes on a regular basis. The transition from teen to young adult is often a turbulent time, and this books help navigate discovering and embracing your identity, learning about God's will for your life, recovery,  pornography, freedom in Christ, Sabbath, relationships, forgiveness, and several other things that most people deal with, some more successfully than others.

This is written for young adults, and while ‘young’  often refers to a chronological age, many more seasoned people never learned these valuable lessons at the appropriate time in their life. Bottom line, it’s never too late—at least it shouldn’t be—to learn how to be an adult.  Even if you think you’re ‘too old’ for this book, you might want to reconsider---but it for your young adult, but read it yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

As a member of the publishers bloggers program, I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

4/5

Nice as an idol

We teach our kids to be nice, we try to be nice to people, we really with that people would be nice to us.  I’m not even sure why I requested a copy of this book, it sounded like it might just be a little too shmaltzy for my taste. But there was something about the subtitle that caught my attention, and so I signed up for Sharon Hodde Miller’s book Nice: Why We Love to Be Liked and How God Calls Us to More (Baker Books, 2019).

So, the question we are invited to ask is a simple one: is nice really such a good thing? And according to Miller, maybe not. In fact, instead of the ‘fruits of the Spirit” which are a good thing, the ‘fruits of nice” can arguably be called idols.

Under the guise of nicety, we tend to be a lot of things that God never intended. In the first part of the book, we read about how we may come across as nice, but in reality, we are fake, rotten, bland, bitter, hard, and even processed (think mawkish sentimentality). But there is hope. The fault of bad fruit, is not the fruit, but the tree from which it comes. The solution is to cultivate a better tree. Pruning, and caring for the tree often help, and sometimes we just need to cut down the tree and start over.

After discussing the bad fruit, Miller moves on to the signs of a healthy tree: Embracing the design, rooting the soul, pruning the produce, and learning to flourish in the wilderness.

And suddenly we have fruit that lasts.

I enjoy reading about idols and idolatry, mainly because I, along with probably everyone I know suffers from this deadly disease.

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.

4/5

be bold, pray bold

I have learned a lot about prayer over the years from the books I read. For example, God is not offended by big prayers—He would much rather we reach out in faith than have us doubt His abilities by only praying the smallest of prayers. Or things like ‘unprayed prayers’ don’t get answered. So when I saw the opportunity to read Pray Big Things: The Surprising Life God Has for You When You’re BOLD ENOUGH TO ASK (Julia Jeffress Sadler, Baker Books, 2019) I jumped at the chance.

Let me start by saying that I don’t disagree with any of Sadler’s claims or assertions about prayer, and she does have some pretty compelling stories of how God answered her prayers (after several miscarriages with that associated heartbreak, she and her husband prayed specifically for 1) biological children, 2) multiples and 3) both genders—the result was healthy triplets).

But as far as reading the book, it was hard for me to stay engaged. I blame it more on my preference for writing style than anything else, but still, this is not a book that grabbed my attention and refused to let go. There were no earth-shattering moments, no new ideas, nothing that caught my attention and caused me to wonder why I hadn’t considered that before.

And coming from a preacher, it seemed that there were almost too many scripture references. They all fit, but I often got the idea that some of the quotes from scripture were there because the chapter needed a few more words.  Reading this book for me was like listening to a new preacher: they have a point to make, or want to get a particular message across, so they look for verses, sometimes out of context, that seem to support their point of view. And when you only have 15 minutes worth of words for your 20 minute message, how better to fill the time than to quote Jesus.

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

3/5

How bad is not good enough?

Several weeks ago, I was at the gym, and because I get bored easily while on treadmill or stair stepper, I usually listen to a play list off my phone. That day for some reason, I decided to listen to a podcast. The one I stumbled on had as a guest that day Mike Lyon, author of I’m not Hitler: A Real Conversation about Entry to Heaven (Artistic Lyon, LLC, 2019). The podcast seemed to be faith-based, but the conversation with Mike had quite a different tone to it than I am used to. Nothing negative implied there, frankly I found it refreshing. He was admitting to being human, that is, not perfect, but despite the fact that his language might be a little salty at times, he still loves Jesus, and believes, trusts, has faith that Jesus loves him.  Since I enjoyed listening to the podcast, and found the title of the book rather intriguing, when I finished with the machines, it was time to visit Amazon and buy the book.  Definitely not disappointed.

                There are 23 short chapters, and each one concludes with a couple of questions that really make one think. Mike addresses a number of issues that are often stumbling blocks pre-believers, but as he talks about his own experiences, doubts, and fears, he quickly puts those concerns to rest.

Two of the issues that quickly jump out are the questions of how good do you have to be to get to heaven, (and why, if you’re a good person, can’t you get to heaven without Jesus)? And what do we do with all those other religions, all of whom claim exclusive rights to heaven. The point he makes so clearly is that contradictory statements can’t all be true—either they are all wrong, or one is right, and the rest are wrong. And then he lays out his thought process for believing that Jesus is the way to heaven.

                At first the title didn’t make much sense, until I stopped to think about his main premise, that just being good isn’t good enough. But I imagine that there are still people who think they can be good enough, and anyway, even if they fall short in some areas, they’re not as bad as Hitler (or Genghis Khan or Saddam Hussein, or any of the evil doers of our day).

                I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author’s candor made it come alive for me as he made his various points. 

                This would be a great book for a small group to study, and it can be quite a valuable tool for helping pre- or new-believers better understand the Christian faith.

                5/5

Double Blessings by Mark Batterson

What do you think of when you hear about blessings? I’m sure that there are probably as many ideas of what the word means as there are people considering the question. Apart from the obvious ‘Bless you!’ when someone sneezes, there are a lot of ways to understand the word.

                When Isaac was about to die, he gave a blessing to what he thought was his oldest son. There were certain elements to that type of patriarchal blessing, that often are often included still today in some cultures. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and that was a blessing. Often today when we receive an unexpected gift, we remark that it was such a blessing—especially if it comes at a time when we have an emergency or some type of crisis that we don’t know how we can pay for.

                But Mark Batterson points out that there are 2 parts to blessings: receiving and giving. And his book Double Blessing: How to Get It. How to Give It¸(Multnomah, 2019) gives lots of examples of both.

                If you’ve read any of Mark’s other books, you know that he is a gifted scholar and writer. He has the advanced knowledge needed to write about the deepest of topics, and the gift of putting advanced concepts into terms that the ordinary reader can understand. With a combination of scripture and personal experiences, he brings his subject matter to life.

                Many people grew up hearing it’s better to give than receive, and as a result we find it hard to accept the blessings that come our way. So, it makes sense that Mark starts out by writing about how to get blessings, and then how to give.  I love his concept of double blessings, for example if someone blesses him with a gift card, he might regift it, or he might get a gift card that he knows someone else could use, or would like. The point is, he’s not locked into blessing the person that blessed him, but rather into passing the blessing on to someone else.

                And he uses these blessing moments as teaching moments, discipleship at its finest, leaving a legacy of people who have learned the blessing of being able to bless others.  Wondering if that’s biblical?  Go look up Genesis 12: 1-3 and read what God told Abraham about how being blessed is supposed to work.

                One negative comment, on an otherwise excellent book---Mark, as do many multi-book authors, often repeats anecdotal material. If this is the first of his books that  you’ve read you’ll appreciate the stories, but after reading several books, I look for something a little different.  

                As a part of the launch team for this book I received a copy of the uncorrected proof. I was asked to read the entire book and post a review. There was no requirement to post a positive review.

 Once again Mark Batterson has written a book that deserves a 5 star rating.

thoughts on "Radiant: His Light, Your Life

Most people have trouble understanding who we really are, especially who we are in Christ, who we are in God’s eyes.  Instead we tend to listen to everyone else and blindly accept the labels that the world pins on us.  Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone would study the book of Ephesians and learn about their true identity?

 Recently a new faith-based movie, Overcomer, directed by Alex Kendrick and produced by Stephen Kendrick released in theaters.  Several books ‘inspired by the movie’ and geared toward different groups have been published. I’ve reviewed three of them, and now it’s time to write about the 4^th one in the group. Radiant: His Light, your life (B&H publishing, 2019) is written by Priscilla Shirer, who stars in the movie. This book is written especially for teen girls and young women.  

Ms Shirer writes from personal experience about finding her identity. She discusses issues that she has dealt with as she learned to shake off labels imposed on her by someone else, in favor of looking in the mirror and seeing the beautiful woman that she is, a child of God, created in His image.

Of course there is a journey involved, and she is careful document that journey, leading from a place of darkness to a realization that God had a plan for her, and then leaning what she needed to do to fulfill that plan.

There are 4 parts to this book each with several chapters. Each part begins with scriptures to read, affirmations to recite, along with an example of God’s eternal truth which women should believe.  At the end of each section there are things to think about and ‘takeaways’.

Many of the chapters include lists—list of the names that women should be called by, names that define who they are in God’s sight.

In today’s society, almost every women could benefit from the message that Priscilla offers. I think this book would work well as a women’s study guide, although reading it ‘solo’ would certainly be beneficial.

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

4/5

Be the Bridge

I like to read, a lot. And sometimes I come across a book that should be on pretty much everyone’s “must read” list. Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison (Waterbrook, 2019) is one of those books.  If you haven’t done so yet, preorder it so that it will be in your mailbox when it releases this fall (expected to release on Oct 15).

                This book is the very personal journey, the very personal story of the author. Ms Morrison grew up hearing a version of history that didn’t seem fair, but it was history. And then came the day when, in a college class, she heard the unredacted version of what had really happened to her ancestors, and thousands of others who were bought and sold as slaves. The story of how people had looked down on them and tried to strip their humanity from them. But beyond that, she heard the story of proud civilizations, of kings and queens, and prospering cultures and communities. And the discomfort that she felt that day propelled her into a place where she could share the truth of what happened, and then put it into perspective: what does God think, and how can we get back to what it was supposed to be like.

                This book is the story of how the organization Be the Bridge came to be, of how a small group who met to discuss reconciliation has branched out and is now over 1000 groups across 5 countries. Groups of people who serve as ambassadors for racial reconciliation.

                Morrison writes from the heart about the lessons she has learned, and how they have impacted her. She shares episodes from her life, and she leads the reader into a new understanding of the story of slavery in this country, and hopefully how the age-old custom of “the victor writes the history books” is not, nor has it ever been, fair to subsequent generations.

                At level it seems that Morrison understands that the past is the past and can’t be changed. But she also knows that there is work to be done today so that the injustices of the past don’t have to be carried any further into the future.  If I can put into practice even a small part of what I have learned from this book, I will be a better person, and the world will be a brighter place for all of humanity—people created in the image of God, and really what more can we ask for than to be listening to and obeying God as he tells us how to show that we love Him: by loving others.

                I received an uncorrected proof copy of this book as a member of the launch team.

                5/5

Faith for Exiles

The other day I was collecting money at a charity event and someone asked if we could take anything but cash.  If the right person was there, we could use an app on his phone to take credit cards, but for the most part we were taking cash.  As we waited for the guy with the app to come back, we started talking, and this young man informed me that he had recently been at a crypto-currency conference, and tried to explain what it was. I just learning about things like venmo and square and this guy is talking about money that doesn’t really exist except, apparently, in cyber space. There’s about 45 years difference in our ages, we’re both Americans, we both were speaking English, but we might as well have been from different planets.

And that seems to be a major problem for our society and for our churches today. Different generations have different languages, different values, different aspirations, different work ethics, and yes, even different meaning for words that have been in use in this country for decades, even centuries.

            Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock addresses this issue in a research-based way, and look at what’s happening in local churches as the younger generations become totally immersed in technology, and older generations are quickly becoming left further and further behind.

            For some people it appears that the gap is so wide that it appears there is no way to bridge it, but Kinnaman and Matlock have hope that the Church will prevail. The differences are not as great as they mean seem at first blush. It will just take some willingness to see things through the eyes of another generation, and then trust that Christ has got this.

            I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of the launch team. I was expected to read the book and share my thoughts about it on my blog and by writing a review.

            Although I did not find this book as helpful as some of the other books I’ve read by Kinnaman, I would still recommend it to pastors and ministry leaders

4/5

Helping young men discover their identity in Christ

There comes a time in every boy’s life when he starts to question not only who he is, but who he will become. God has a plan for each of us, but so does the enemy, so as teens and young men we are forced to make a choice.  A major issue in our country, and many others, is that there is a lack of teachers, mentors, and disciplers to guide these young impressionable minds; and there is always someone or something trying to distract them from God's call on their lives.

                Alex and Stephen Kendrick, with Troy Schmidt, have a lot to teach young men about becoming the man that God wants them to be. Their book, inspired by the movie Overcomer, has a lot to say about sin, holiness, making wise choices, doing the next right thing, and in general becoming an adult who knows who he is, and is willing to share how he got there with the world.

                Revealed: Discovering Your True Identity in Christ for Teen Boys and Young Men (B&H publishing, 2019) is an easy read, in fact given the age group that this book is intended for, I’d say that it’s too easy of a read—if I remember myself correctly in my teens and early 20’s, I probably would have seen this book a bit condescending, and looking down on my generation as not being smart enough to read at a slightly higher grade level.

                But the Kendricks do make a lot of good points, and I want to commend them for the (in my opinion) too brief sections on writing/sharing their testimony and the need to obey the Great Commission.  All too often it seems that we ask people to make a decision to follow Christ, and then forget to tell them what that involves. In other words, instead of raising the bar, we lower it to the point of hardly being a ripple over which we need to step.

                Yes we want people to understand who they are in Christ, yes we want people to attend church, read their bibles and fellowship with other Christians; but we also want and need them to boldly proclaim their faith. The Church needs them to be willing to go to the nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching all that Jesus taught about the good news that is the Gospel. And the authors get points for remembering to point that out as a main key to Christianity, and discovering our identity in Christ.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

your story is important

Everyone seems interested in where they came from. We want to know our ancestors: who they were, what they liked, what they were like. We want to know them to help us know ourselves. All too often though, it seems that in our search for the past we tend to forget about the future. We want to know about who came before us, but tend to forget that those who come after might want to know a little about us.

Dear Grandchild, This Is Me: A Gift of Stories, Wisdom, and Off-the-Record Tales (Waterbrook, 2019) is an easy way for grandparents to leave a legacy for their grandchildren. The book is basically a fill in the blank template so that you can write your story. They are pages for letters about what it was like growing up, memories from different stages of life, envelopes for words of wisdom at certain milestones, places for pictures, all in all a portrait of a life that might otherwise be forgotten. And even the start of a family tree: a place to record names of your own parents and grandparents.

As I looked through the book, I realized how difficult it is to just sit down and recall and record so many memories. This is a gift that will be appreciated for years to come. And I know that many people will question why they should leave this ‘autobiography’. I imagine their thought process will go something along the lines of ‘I’m nobody important, nobody special, who cares what my childhood was like”. But we have to remember that in the eyes of our family members we’re important even if we weren’t making headlines every day. And of course we’re all created in the image of God, and in His eyes we’re special and worth remembering.

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

4/5

Jesus softens hearts and breaks down barriers

As many of you know, I work at the Ogden Rescue Mission (ORM); the other day a co-worker visited the Rescue Mission Salt Lake (RMSL), and came back with some books. One of them I had heard of before, but didn’t know much about. I started reading Same Kind of Different as Me: a Modern-day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman who Bound Them Together  (Ron Hall and Denver Moore, W publishing Group, 2006) and found it to be an interesting story, but wondered why it was a ‘recommend’

            There are 2 stories being told, different lives in different parts of the country, different socio-economic status, and different races. One man a modern-day slave, and the other a very successful international art dealer. They seem to have nothing in common, but the art-dealer’s wife sees somehow sees it differently. Through her an unlikely bond is forged.

            But this isn’t just a story of crossing racial boundaries, although that in itself would be a compelling narrative. It’s more than just the difference between black and white, or rich and poor, schooled or uneducated. This is a story of God's love for each of us, and how Jesus can work on hearts, and through softened hearts dissolve barriers.

            So what’s the connect to ORM and RMSL? The art dealer’s wife although she is rich, isn’t much interested in storing up treasures on earth, and she has a heart for serving God. Her husband, not so much. He seems to think that if he goes to church once in a while, that he’s good.  She decides that they are going to volunteer at a local Gospel Rescue Mission. It’s there that they meet Denver and the story of transformed lives begins.

            It’s a long journey since Denver doesn’t trust, and Ron doesn’t really want to be there, but eventually they become friends, after Denver explains that he doesn’t want to be a ‘catch and release’ friend—if he commits to being a friend, then it’s for life. And that’s what happens. The two men, forced into a tenuous relationship through the efforts of a single woman—loved by one man, and respected and admired by the other—become life-long friends. They enter into each other’s worlds, and the hearts of both are changed.

            Warning: you’ll want to have some tissues handy. And be advised, this book may just change your heart, and the way you see the homeless population in your city!

5/5

thoughts on "Something Needs to Change"

Most people I know don’t like change—unless it only affects someone else, and sometimes not even then.  And then there are the people who embrace change, willingly embrace it, and sometimes even seek it out. I sometimes resist change, even when I know it will be good for me, but as I read through David Platt’s latest book, Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need, (Multnomah, 2019) it dawned on me that I’ve also fallen into the trap of resisting change even when it means that the resistance is nothing more than disobedience to God’s will and call on my life. 

This book is one of the best I have read on how we should respond to God’s call on the lives of all Christians. I’ve traveled in the part of the world that Platt writes about. I’ve seen some of what are probably some the worst slums in the world, and I’ve seen the people who live in abject spiritual and physical poverty. I’ve met people who have no hope other than perhaps finding a few scraps of food so their kids don’t have to go bed hungry—again.

               I used to think that sending an occasional check to some missions agency, or to support a missionary in another part of the world was doing all that I needed to do to fulfill my part of the Great Commission. But several mission trips later, I realized, as Platt so eloquently points out, that sometimes we need to come face to face with the extreme needs in the world before we are willing to fall on our face before God, and with tears in our eyes beg Him to tell us what He would have us do to share His love with His children.   We have to see what others lack before we realize how much we have. And when we see how people get by with so little, it should force us to think about how richly we have been blessed, and how those great blessing should cause us to be filled with gratitude.

            Current estimates are that there are still 7000 unreached people groups left in the world, and unless the church steps up and shoulders the responsibility for fulfilling the great commission, that number is unlikely to grow smaller anytime in the near future. It seems pretty obvious to me that not everyone is physically capable of scaling Himalayan mountain peaks, but there are other places less physically challenging that have the same needs. At some point more of us need to cry out, as Isaiah did, “here I am, Lord, send me!” 

           Platt’s passion was obvious in this book, I just wish that I had been able to feel that same passion through the written words, as I have felt when working with new Christians whose previous world view left them basically with no hope, and eternally separated from God.  I particularly liked how he tied his daily devotional readings during this journey into the text. My renewed prayer after reading this book (in one evening) was the following” Lord, let my heart be broken by the things that break your heart; and let me love your people like you love them.

          As a member of the publisher’s bloggers’ program, I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book so that I could provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

         To give anything less than a 5/5 would be a great disservice to the multitudes of people who will be blessed by reading this book.

discover your identity in Christ

Who am I? Why am I here? What was God thinking when He created me? And how many more questions can you think of?  You know, those questions that pop into your head at the strangest and most inconvenient times. Those questions that plague us at night, when for whatever reason, we can’t sleep. Those questions that seem to hit hardest when we’re going through our darkest moments—when the evil one tries to convince us that his lies are the truth by which we must abide.

On AUG 23, the movie OVERCOMER releases in theaters. The movie comes from the folk behind such films as War Room, Fireproof, Courageous, and other faith-based films. The Kendrick brothers have several books and resources based on the movie Overcomer. Defined: Who God Says You Are (B&H Publishing, 2019) is one of them.

The book doesn’t tell the story of the movie—the promotional material says that it is “inspired by the movie”. What it does is ask to reflect on those difficult questions that plague us all. This book helps us to discover our identity: not based on what we think of ourselves, not based on whatever label that family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates or anyone else tries to pin on us. The main point of this book is that our true identity comes from who God says we are. God created us in His image, and He gets to decide who we are.

The several parts of the book help us look at our identity, along with its confusion and source. Then we move on to the intentionality of how our stories begin: uniquely designed, and made in God's image, among other things.  Part 2 talks about our identity in terms of who we are in Christ: beloved, blessed, saved, prized, and gifted. Then the authors take us on a journey to find our inheritance: what we have in Christ. Part 4 looks at imperatives—those things that as Christians we are supposed to be doing. And yes, that includes loving one another. And then the last section talks about how we stand strong, even, and especially during attacks.

At the end of each chapter are several passages of scripture for the reader to study and ponder over. And the book includes a series of questions for each chapter. The questions can be used as small group discussion starters, but are also helpful for individuals.

Throughout the book there are personal stories from the authors that help to clarify the points they are trying to make.

I’m leading a Bible study now on Ephesians, looking at who wee are in Christ, and many of the things that stood out in this book are things we’ve already talked about in the study, or things I highlighted for future sessions.

At times the book is a little ‘dry’, but the information is solid, and is presented in a logical manner. I’m using the book as an additional resource for the bible study. Sometimes what I find useful is directly related to Ephesians, sometimes the info comes from other places in scripture, but helps clarify what we’re talking about in the book of Ephesians.

As a member of the Publisher’s bloggers’ program, I received a copy of this book. In exchange for the book, I was requested to write a review. I was not required to write a positive review.

help the kids didscover who God says they are

Overcomer is a faith-based movie that is set to release soon, and the folks behind the movie have created some tools to go along with that movie. There is a series of books ‘inspired’ by the movie, and each book asks a different group of people to answer a simple (or not so simple) question:  Who are you based on what God says?

Wonderful: The Truth about Who I Am, by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick with Amy Parker is for the younger set, the publisher’s description suggests that it is appropriate for kids 8-12 years old (or grades 2-7).  Other books in the series include one for adults, for teen boys and young men, and also one for teen girls and young women.

So, this book asks your child the question “who am I?’ and then runs through several answers that they will find as they learn to recognize their identity in Christ. Kids will discover that they are unique, human, made new, loved, a child of God, an example, not alone, and called.

There is a set of questions at the end of each section of the book, and children are asked to draw a picture of how they see themselves in regards to the issues they just read about.

A fun book for the littles in your life.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through their bloggers’ program. I was asked to express my own opinion, and was not required to write a positive review.

4/5