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.”
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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.”
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