This is the third book Multnomah has sent me to review and I think I see a pattern. The authors seem fairly interchangeable. They are all approaching middle age, yet already touted as Christian leaders on a national level. They are good at thinking outside the box. They all like to call Christians Christ followers instead of Christians. They all like to talk about how bad the church has become and complain about Christians turning people off to Christ. Then they fill their books with stories of Christians who are doing wonderful things to serve God and bless others and reach people for Jesus. Go figure.
Back to the book at hand. I'm having trouble deciding whether I like this one or not. Author Mark Batterson is pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. The book title derives from II Samuel 23:20-21 where we learn about a warrior named Benaiah. One of Benaiah's heroic deeds was chasing a lion into a pit, on a snowy day, and killing it. Later Benaiah was promoted to the highest position in King David's guard. Still later Solomon made him commander of the entire Israelite army. Like I said, Benaiah was a warrior and clearly he was good at it.
Batterson's thesis is that if we all developed the kind of mind set and intensity that it takes to jump in a pit and kill a lion then we would be much better at doing the things God has called us to do and therefore at building the Kingdom. He spends most of the book developing this idea around a few character traits, or skill sets, he feels we should all develop. These include: try to grasp God's greatness; face your fears; reframe your problems to get God's perspective; take risks; accept that you are going to look foolish sometimes.
While I think Batterson has gone a little too far in developing this whole model based on the brief little story of Benaiah, I have to admit it is actually pretty good advice. Plus, he does back most of his ideas up with other scriptures. Even though we do not all have the personality or the skill set of a savage warrior, most of us probably do need to go to battle, so to speak, for the Kingdom in ways and degrees that we have not been. And, yes, that will involve adopting Batterson's skill sets.
The writing was okay. He had a few inspiring paragraphs. Batterson uses a lot of illustrations and analogies from the world of science. In my opinion, he over uses them, and I enjoy science illustrations. Also, as mentioned earlier, he uses real life stories of Christians who are taking risks to better live for Christ. Most of these are interesting.
Overall, I'm somewhat ambivalent about this book. Read it if you need a good pep talk regarding your Christian life. Read it if you need some good illustrations and stories for your preaching or teaching ministry.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Message to the class of '81
(Family friendly warning, following some of the links below might lead to sites with songs or message boards containing naughty language.)
To the rest of you who graduated from high school in 1981, and especially from Dulles, what the pooh happened? One day you're walking across the stage grabbing your diploma, on top of the world, with big dreams and your whole life ahead of you. A couple days later you wake up and suddenly you have arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fasciaitis, reflux, receding hair line, cellulite, can't see too well, can't move too well, can't hear too well, can't remember too well, etc., etc., etc.
To the rest of you who graduated from high school in 1981, and especially from Dulles, what the pooh happened? One day you're walking across the stage grabbing your diploma, on top of the world, with big dreams and your whole life ahead of you. A couple days later you wake up and suddenly you have arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fasciaitis, reflux, receding hair line, cellulite, can't see too well, can't move too well, can't hear too well, can't remember too well, etc., etc., etc.
We're the last of the Baby Boomers. And I think we are the last generation to remember life before cable TV, computers, cell phones, and rap. We remember Blackwater as a song instead of a mercenary army or an oil spill. We remember the original Sesame Street gang, Reagan telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall, Lennon getting shot, and knowing that every Friday night Another One Bites The Dust.
Seriously, though, congratulations on the past 30 years. If you've made it this far you deserve to pause and have a little Celebration of your journey and all you've accomplished and all you've learned. You know, as great as we thought things were in 1981, I've learned that right now, these really are The Best Of Times, watching my kids grow and experiencing God's grace as my mind and body start going downhill. I've learned that love really is More Than A Feeling. I've also learned that there is no Stairway to Heaven, but There Is A Savior.
Take a few moments then, to simply be Still and enjoy this milestone. But, don't waste much time on that. You see, life really is just Dust In The Wind that flies by, and the next thirty years looms ahead. So whether you are an Urban Cowboy, Just A Good Old Boy, a Dancing Queen, a Desperado, or a Renegade, buckle up and Carry On My Wayward Son. Don't Bring Me Down by giving up, get back On The Road Again.
And as you travel through this Grand Illusion, learn from the past and things that happened All Those Years Ago, but don't cling to it. Dream On for a better future, but make the most of this moment--no regrets today.
This probably wasn't exactly your Rock 'N Roll Fantasy, or even a trip through Boogie Wonderland; but hopefully it brought back some good memories. Its shown me that clearly, I have Too Much Time On My Hands.
Congratulations class of 1981 on the 30th anniversary of your parole, i.e., high school graduation.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A Review of "Awakening"
I've recently completed Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems. Pastor/teacher types are forever exhorting their congregations and classes to spend time alone with God praying and studying his word. However, one rarely hears these folks include a call to fast in their teaching. Awakening changes that. Reverend Weems is the pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida and he regularly includes fasts as part of his relationship with God. In the book he shares why he does so and why he thinks it is important for all Christians (who are medically able) to do so as well. Specifically, he calls for a 21 day fast to "revolutionize your relationship with God".
The teaching part of the book is 124 pages long. Weems uses scripture and personal experience to explain how and why Christians should spend time in personal study and worship, including fasting. The chapters are readable and most conclude before they get boring. Each one ends with a personal testimoney from a member of Celebration church who tells something of how God used the 21 day fast in his/her life. These testimonies of God's activity are really neat. Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that Weems is really passionate in his love for Jesus and that comes through in the writing.
The next 20 pages lay out the plans for several types of 21 day fasts. Weems gives his thoughts on the value of each type of fast as well as providing medical cautions where appropriate. Following these plans are 21 days worth of personal devotional readings to use while on the fast. Reverend Weems also throws in some ideas of what to expect your body to do as it responds to various phases of the fast and encouragement to keep going. The final six pages consists of study questions to use if one is leading a small group through a study of this book. I found this to be the weakest section.
I have to admit that I do not understand the subtitle, "A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom". There is really nothing new here. It is a book about spiritual disciplines that many Christians have been practicing for centuries. Still, it is a book worth reading and it is my hope and prayer that many who read this book will apply these disciplines to their own lives.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The teaching part of the book is 124 pages long. Weems uses scripture and personal experience to explain how and why Christians should spend time in personal study and worship, including fasting. The chapters are readable and most conclude before they get boring. Each one ends with a personal testimoney from a member of Celebration church who tells something of how God used the 21 day fast in his/her life. These testimonies of God's activity are really neat. Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that Weems is really passionate in his love for Jesus and that comes through in the writing.
The next 20 pages lay out the plans for several types of 21 day fasts. Weems gives his thoughts on the value of each type of fast as well as providing medical cautions where appropriate. Following these plans are 21 days worth of personal devotional readings to use while on the fast. Reverend Weems also throws in some ideas of what to expect your body to do as it responds to various phases of the fast and encouragement to keep going. The final six pages consists of study questions to use if one is leading a small group through a study of this book. I found this to be the weakest section.
I have to admit that I do not understand the subtitle, "A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom". There is really nothing new here. It is a book about spiritual disciplines that many Christians have been practicing for centuries. Still, it is a book worth reading and it is my hope and prayer that many who read this book will apply these disciplines to their own lives.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
"The Next Christians" a review
I've just read The Next Christians: The Good News About The End Of Christian America by Gabe Lyons and a few thoughts follow. The Next Christians makes the case that Christianity in America is in sad shape; so sad that we are actually in a post Christian era. Lyons however, is persuaded that we should be optimistic about the future of Christianity due to those he dubs "restorers". Lyons proclaims that the work of Jesus was/is all about restoring people and the universe to the state of wholeness and goodness that existed before the fall. Restorers then, are Christians who seek to restore goodness, beauty, truth, justice, etc. to our culture; indeed to all people.
Lyons describes how restorers live out six special characteristics in seven channels of cultural influence. They desire to do this for the sake of Jesus. If I understand what Lyons is saying, the difference between restorers and the Christians of the past 2000 years is that the goal of the restorers is simply to do these good things. If people find salvation through Christ in the process, that is a bonus, but not necessarily the main objective. To his credit though, Lyons does exhort Christians to keep the gospel as the highest priority of life. He claims that when Christians practice the lifestyle of a restorer the result will be that people are saved.
Lyons has certainly done his homework here. He provides statistical results from various studies to support his claims. He also provides numerous real life illustrations based on personal friendships and interviews to demonstrate the demise of Christianity as well as to illustrate the good things that restorers are doing. Some of the stories he cites are interesting whereas others, not so much.
I did enjoy the book. Lyon's writing is clear and easy to follow, although not extremely engaging. However, I did find his narrative of the gospel in chapter four to be fresh and enjoyable. Overall I give the book a C+ for writing, B for holding interest, C+ for consistency and logical conclusions, A for optimism, and B for provoking further thought.
In short, if you put all the trendy phrases and personal illustrations and anecdotal stories aside, Lyons is saying that he expects revival. I hope he is right.
Who might enjoy or benefit from The Next Christians? Any Christians interested in ideas for social justice ministry or outreach to the lost. Anyone intrigued by the message of the emerging church movement (this is not to say that Lyons is definitely a part of that movement). People who think Christians are jerks. Christians who are interested in living more fully for Christ.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Lyons describes how restorers live out six special characteristics in seven channels of cultural influence. They desire to do this for the sake of Jesus. If I understand what Lyons is saying, the difference between restorers and the Christians of the past 2000 years is that the goal of the restorers is simply to do these good things. If people find salvation through Christ in the process, that is a bonus, but not necessarily the main objective. To his credit though, Lyons does exhort Christians to keep the gospel as the highest priority of life. He claims that when Christians practice the lifestyle of a restorer the result will be that people are saved.
Lyons has certainly done his homework here. He provides statistical results from various studies to support his claims. He also provides numerous real life illustrations based on personal friendships and interviews to demonstrate the demise of Christianity as well as to illustrate the good things that restorers are doing. Some of the stories he cites are interesting whereas others, not so much.
I did enjoy the book. Lyon's writing is clear and easy to follow, although not extremely engaging. However, I did find his narrative of the gospel in chapter four to be fresh and enjoyable. Overall I give the book a C+ for writing, B for holding interest, C+ for consistency and logical conclusions, A for optimism, and B for provoking further thought.
In short, if you put all the trendy phrases and personal illustrations and anecdotal stories aside, Lyons is saying that he expects revival. I hope he is right.
Who might enjoy or benefit from The Next Christians? Any Christians interested in ideas for social justice ministry or outreach to the lost. Anyone intrigued by the message of the emerging church movement (this is not to say that Lyons is definitely a part of that movement). People who think Christians are jerks. Christians who are interested in living more fully for Christ.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Monday, January 10, 2011
PFSAD
I know there are others out there. You, like me, experience a melancholy as football season winds down. Maybe it comes on after the high school playoffs, maybe after your university's bowl game, maybe after the BCS championship, maybe after the Super Bowl, but at some point when you face life without football for 8 months, you get depressed.
Last year it wasn't so bad because we had the Winter Olympics to distract us. Once they were over however, my support group realized that this year would be extra bad with no distractions. Our physicians wanted to put us on meds which none of us were too keen on. Our thrapists kept asking about our childhoods. Of course we all had the same answer, we spent 85% of our time out in the yard playing football with every other kid in the neighborhood. DUH!
So, in our quest for help we got together and commissioned a nation-wide survey to try to find some answers. The polling organization contacted dozens of PFSAD sufferers to ask what works for them in overcoming this condition. Surely, in the collective wisdom of this great nation we can find help. What works for someone in another state, just might work for you too.
Read on, then, and maybe the therapy that has helped another will be your solution as well.
"Wayul, my wife's sister's son's best friend's piano teacher is good friends with the coach down to the high school. He gets us the hook up e'ery year. We go into the field house during the school lunch period and sit in the equipment room and watch the video from every game, one per day. If we 'uz in the playoffs that season that's almost three weeks of therapy; for free! Shoot. You can't beat that with a stick."
--Jim Bob Jumpback
Pascagoula, MS
"I always just go quail hunting. Makes me feel much better."
--Chick Daney
Beeville, TX
"I light a few candles in my Grant Teaff shrine and meditate. Ya, I chant my mantra. What is it? "waytilnexcheer, waytilnexcheer, waytilnexcheer'. I just repeat it over and over, you know, between six packs. I always end up feeling much better. Been doing it since 1987."
--Jerry Don Spruill
Waco, TX
"I like to get an SUV. I equip the locks with a remotely controlled mechanical system that cannot be overridden without the proper radio frequency. I fill up the gas tank, park in front of Al Gore's house, leave the engine running, and lock the doors." --Dan Quayle
"I run down to the hardware store and buy a jug of denatured alcohol. Then I go out in the backyard and use it to set all the anthills on fire. Makes me feel much better."
--Bubba Barnes
Gatlinburg, TN
"What's football?" --Elliot Higginbotham, Bangor, ME
"Soon as I start to feel those blues coming on I know exaclty what I gotta do. I start collecting daily water samples in all the local cricks. I plot the water temperature and clarity with the day length, moon phase, and ambient temperature. In just a couple weeks I can predict the exact date and time that the white bass will start spawning. That way I will be ready for it. I'm always on the water as soon as they start. Fill my freezer with filets the first week every year."
--Billy Boudreaux
Munroe, LA
--Eddie Ray Kincaid
Houston, TX
"Hog hunting. Every Saturday until turkey season I go hog hunting. The more I kill, the better I feel."
--Bubba Washington
Alpharetta, GA
Last year it wasn't so bad because we had the Winter Olympics to distract us. Once they were over however, my support group realized that this year would be extra bad with no distractions. Our physicians wanted to put us on meds which none of us were too keen on. Our thrapists kept asking about our childhoods. Of course we all had the same answer, we spent 85% of our time out in the yard playing football with every other kid in the neighborhood. DUH!
So, in our quest for help we got together and commissioned a nation-wide survey to try to find some answers. The polling organization contacted dozens of PFSAD sufferers to ask what works for them in overcoming this condition. Surely, in the collective wisdom of this great nation we can find help. What works for someone in another state, just might work for you too.
Read on, then, and maybe the therapy that has helped another will be your solution as well.
"Wayul, my wife's sister's son's best friend's piano teacher is good friends with the coach down to the high school. He gets us the hook up e'ery year. We go into the field house during the school lunch period and sit in the equipment room and watch the video from every game, one per day. If we 'uz in the playoffs that season that's almost three weeks of therapy; for free! Shoot. You can't beat that with a stick."
--Jim Bob Jumpback
Pascagoula, MS
"I always just go quail hunting. Makes me feel much better."
--Chick Daney
Beeville, TX
"I light a few candles in my Grant Teaff shrine and meditate. Ya, I chant my mantra. What is it? "waytilnexcheer, waytilnexcheer, waytilnexcheer'. I just repeat it over and over, you know, between six packs. I always end up feeling much better. Been doing it since 1987."
--Jerry Don Spruill
Waco, TX
"I like to get an SUV. I equip the locks with a remotely controlled mechanical system that cannot be overridden without the proper radio frequency. I fill up the gas tank, park in front of Al Gore's house, leave the engine running, and lock the doors." --Dan Quayle
"I run down to the hardware store and buy a jug of denatured alcohol. Then I go out in the backyard and use it to set all the anthills on fire. Makes me feel much better."
--Bubba Barnes
Gatlinburg, TN
"What's football?" --Elliot Higginbotham, Bangor, ME
"Soon as I start to feel those blues coming on I know exaclty what I gotta do. I start collecting daily water samples in all the local cricks. I plot the water temperature and clarity with the day length, moon phase, and ambient temperature. In just a couple weeks I can predict the exact date and time that the white bass will start spawning. That way I will be ready for it. I'm always on the water as soon as they start. Fill my freezer with filets the first week every year."
--Billy Boudreaux
Munroe, LA
"Donuts. Lots of donuts and I always feel much better." --Joe Don Jackson, Huntington, WV
"Shoot. I found out a long time ago how to deal with that. The day after the Super Bowl I start making my brackets for the NCAA basketball tourny. Then, I spend the next several Saturdays with a pencil and eraser changing them up and getting them fine tuned. When March madness gets here I'm ready for the real thing. By the time that's over I'm feeling pretty good and I can go up to the high school and watch spring training."
--Eddie Ray Kincaid
Houston, TX
"Hog hunting. Every Saturday until turkey season I go hog hunting. The more I kill, the better I feel."
--Bubba Washington
Alpharetta, GA
"Buying a new gun always makes me feel better. The problem is that every time I get a new gun I have to buy my wife something too; its only fair. So, I was going broke getting my wife outfits and computers and jewelry every time I got a gun. Of course, being broke negated the benefit of the new gun. I found, though, that I can get my kid new stuff and that's fair for everyone. So, when I start getting depressed, Robyn gets a new gun. She's not really sure why she needs a closet full of guns, but she's happy to get presents. And for just a trip to Baskin Robbins, she lets me borrow them for the weekend."
--Jeb Gordon
Farmers Branch, TX
"I bake a lot." --Girard Odgen Thayers, Boston, MA
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