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. 

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

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

Margins of Islam

Like probably a lot of people, I assumed that most Muslims had pretty much the same religious culture—even though at some level I knew that couldn’t be true. After all there are Shiites and Sunis, and there are obviously some differences or there wouldn’t be two different groups. 

                I’m familiar with different denominations in Christianity, so I think I must have at least suspected that within Islam there were probably  the same types of different interpretations. I have long been interested in missions, and have actually worked with Muslim converts in the past, so the title Margins of Islam: Ministry in Diverse Muslim Contexts (Gene Daniels and Warrick Farah, editors, William Carey Publishers, 2018) was especially intriguing.

                The reader is asked to ponder who it is that represents Islam, and how Muslims shape and use Islam. And then a number of different writers and missiologists describe Islam in various parts of the world, and how the different cultures influence how Islam is practiced in that particular part of the world.

                The final chapters talk about what we can learn from the ‘Margins’ as discussed in the preceding chapters, and how we can apply it in the context of contemporary missions.  

This book was a real eye-opener for me, and I highly recommend it for anyone who dares go beyond the stereotype of Islam—that is anyone interested in a more comprehensive view of the people who practice the religion

5/5

Woman seen through God's Eyes

I almost didn’t ask for a review copy of this book because I’ve seen so many ‘devotionals’ lately and most of them are pretty much the same. They serve their purpose, each one for a different audience, but the pattern is the same, pick a verse or short passage, a little bit about a lesson from the passage and how it applies to YOUR life, perhaps a question or two to help you think, and a sentence prayer to close it out. A good way to start the day, with a particular focus, is through reading a short devotional. Those few minutes help us to start the day by turning to God, and that might be what sets the tone for the day, and all that happens to us.

But I’m so glad I ordered Women of Courage: a Forty-day Devotional (From the (in)courage Community, edited by Mary Carver, B&H Publishing, 2019) This book notches it up at least a few steps. First of all the devotions are grouped by categories; categories that allow women of the bible to be seen in the roles that God intended for them, rather than just a group of women who were present in biblical times, but whose purpose was often downplayed. Women are LEADERS, FRIENDS, and BRAVE. They overcome their BROKENNESS, and they are full of HOPE, GRACE, and GRATITUDE. They often teach us how to WORK TOGETHER, OFFER HOSPITALITY, and DISPLAY GRATITUDE.

Another positive is the fact that instead of just a verse or two, we get an entire passage. While some people can take a single verse and preach for close to an hour, the longer passages give the reader an opportunity to hear the entirety of the account, which means that what they read next is in the context of what God is saying through the lives of these remarkable women.

And just as the passage is longer, the devotional content is also longer. There is more opportunity to flesh out the meaning of the passage and more opportunity to apply it to what’s going on in our lives today…a reminder that God’s truths are timeless, not just something that happened thousands of years ago.

The variety of prayers is also refreshing. Many people have problems praying, because they have never been taught how to pray. While these prayers are focused on the respective passages, they could also be used as a teaching too.

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

4.5/5

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

helping kids learn about giving

If you have children it’s a given that at some point someone has to teach them about money. And if you don’t teach them the basics, and how it can be used responsibly, then the world is standing by to teach them otherwise.

                Art Rainer takes a fresh approach to an age-old problem: greed. Then he uses biblical principles to help your 1^st through 4^th graders understand about giving. (Saving and spending are covered in books 2 and 3 of this three-part series).  So welcome to The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff (B&H Kids, 2019) part 1 of “The Secret Slide Money Club” series.

                We meet 3 friends: Jake, Sophia, and Brody—awesome kids who make a bad money choice, and are on their way to becoming enslaved by their love of money. As they start down that slippery path, they are rescued by Agent G.B. and go on to learn about making good money choices. In the process they help a friend, and also help raise money for a local animal shelter. 

                They don’t realize that they’re under attack from someone who encourages bad choices, but as they learn more about how money should be used, they grow spiritually, and become financially wiser.

                Rainer’s kids must love their Dad’s story telling. This book is a whimsical adventure, with plenty of lessons about greed and charity.

                I received a copy of the book from the published in exchange for a review. The only requirement is that these by my thoughts about the book. There is no obligation to print a favorable review.

"advocates" lacks the passion that the subject matter deserves

At every turn we hear the term ‘racist’ or ‘racism’ or some other word to describe our differences, and the issues that ‘different’ implies. Dhati Lewis focuses mostly on ‘Black’ and ‘White’, mainly because his skin is one color, and that of his wife is the other.  This ‘different’ has caused him problems within his family, because they were focused on their skin color and found it difficult to accept that one of their own would wish to be with someone of another color.

All in all, the discussion about racial profiling, racism in general, and racist comments and behavior needs to be addressed, and it would seem that a book like Advocates: The Narrow Path to Racial Reconciliation would be the perfect vehicle to start the discussion.  Lewis is Black, his wife is White.  He is Black and pastors a predominantly White church. He has a perspective that most of us lack, yet the passion that he writes about having for seeing reconciliation doesn’t come across in the book.

He starts by telling us how Webster defines certain words, and then how he will use them; you can go to a dictionary and see how most people would use ‘advocate’ and ‘aggravator’.  Lewis puts his own nuance on the words: an advocate has the goal of reconciliation. An aggravator describes any type of interaction where the goal is not reconciliation

And when it comes to ‘reconciliation’ he says he prefers to use the word in the biblical sense, (which isn’t defined as clearly as I would have liked to see since he is making it a major part of his thesis statement)

                So, in this short book, Lewis address 4 main points. First is an awareness of the current situation—where we are. Then he moves into a discussion of where God wants us to be, and what that looks like. Next he moves on to developing a strategy for making that move, and ends with a discussion of the courage that we need to face the fears and challenges ahead.

                Given the seriousness of the subject, this book had the potential to change our world, starting with our churches, unfortunately it falls short.

                I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

3/5

Coffee With Mom by Mike Glenn should be required reading for caregivers of Dementia patients

Sometimes an author thinks he’s telling his story, but the further you get into the book, the more familiar it sounds, the names and places might be different, but there is a certain familiarity that you just can’t shake. And it’s not because this is the umpteenth book by the same author and the stories are being repeated; it’s because you, or someone you know is living a similar story. 

                In Coffee with Mom: Caring for a Parent with Dementia (B&H Publishing, 2019) Mike Glenn tells a very personal story, except that it’s probably the story of everyone who has had to care for a parent who suffers with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Yes the details are slightly different. Not everyone played the piano by ear, not everyone grew up in Huntsville, AL, and certainly not every dementia parent had to leave their home and move to Nashville to be close to the caregiving child.  But in the midst of the individual details are those bigger pictures. The pictures of anger, frustration, despair, guilt, hurt, loss and grief.

                Mike Glenn not only addresses so many of those issues, but he tells about his experiences in such a heartfelt way that it’s impossible not to be moved. His pastoral-self shines as he describes what he went through and how he learned to deal with things, including how to realize that he loved his mother enough to make unpopular choices (during a time when she was accusing him of not loving her enough.)

                The lessons in this book are many.  And as he says, almost everyone knows someone who suffers dementia, and when they find out that you’re going through it too, they can’t help but want to tell you about their experiences. Sometimes it helps to know that you’re not alone—other times you need to be the one to share the experience.  And since these horrible diseases affect everyone differently, most of the time the unsolicited advice won’t work in your case anyway (p 166)

                The biggest take away for me is don’t be afraid to ask for help.  The Dementia journey is a long and arduous one, and it’s a rare person who can go it alone. And again Mike adds some Pastoral guidance: turn to God.

                Doctors should read and recommend this book. Staff in care facilities with a memory unit, or patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s patients should familiarize themselves with what the families are going through at the same time that the patient is losing more and more of himself or herself.  This short book speaks volumes into the lives of those struggling with the disease.

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

                5/5

Jesus, during his time on earth, said a lot of things that are important for Christians to understand. Some of them are fairly easy to understand, others not so much so. One example is found in the gospel of Matthew (16:18) “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (ESV)

                He wasn’t saying that the forces of hell would not be able to destroy the Church (although that’s also true) but rather he was saying that the power of the Gospel, of the Church, is so strong that regardless of the walls put up by the enemy, nothing could keep the Gospel from being proclaimed, nothing would be strong enough to keep the church from advancing.

                And that’s a message that bears repeating because so many of us seem to have forgotten that little fact.  In so many parts of the world the gospel has been dummied down, and is just a small part of one’s worldview or culture. In this country, it often seems that we’re so afraid of offending someone that we ignore the gospel, almost as if we’re ashamed of it, instead of boldly declaring it. J.D. Greear, in his book"Above All: the Gospel Is the Source of the Church's Renewal" (B&H Publishing 2019)

                Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans: “16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."  (Romans 1:16-17. NIV), and Jesus himself gave the church her marching orders (see Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21, and Acts 1:8)

                It seems though, that instead of looking for a church where the Gospel is boldly proclaimed, we are more prone to pick a church that matches our preferences, our politics and our culture. I’m glad that Greear addressed these things because they are things that tend to divide us, and weaken the face of the church. Individual Christians or churches don’t have the power to weaken the gospel message, but when others see us as the face of Christianity and we present ourselves as a divided and weakened church, the perception is that the Christian Church is slowly sinking.

                This is a book that needs to be read, with a message that needs to be heard about the power of the gospel. As Christians we need to remember that the gospel comes first, and brings hope, grace along with instructions for how we should live as representatives of our Savior, who has sent us on a mission to change the world. If we address these issues with individuals, and see meaningful change, then the church as a whole can begin the renewal process, a process of restoration that takes her to the place where Jesus intended her to be, and to prevail, even against the gates of hell.

                I received a copy of this book from the publisher for being a part of a bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review—just an honest one based on my own opinions.

                5/5