Quote: Groundless Fears

"...many of God’s people are constantly under apprehensions of calamities which will never occur to them, and they suffer far more in merely dreading them than they would have to endure if they actually came upon them. In their imagination, there are rivers in their way, and they are anxious to know how they shall wade through them, or swim across them. There are no such rivers in existence, but they are agitated and distressed about them. An old proverb says, “Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it;” but these timid people are continually crossing bridges that only exist in their foolish fancies. They stab themselves with imaginary daggers, they starve themselves in imaginary famines, and even bury themselves in imaginary graves. We are such strange creatures that we probably suffer more under blows which never fall upon us than we do under those which do actually come. The rod of God does not strike us as sharply as the rod of our own imagination does; our groundless fears are our chief tormentors, and when we are able to abolish our self-inflictions, all the worries of the world become light and easy. However, it is a pity that Christians who have the gift of faith in Christ given to them, should fall into so guilty and at the same time so painful a habit as this of fearing the oppressor who does not come, and who never will come."

~Needless Fears, sermon #3098 by Charles H. Spurgeon

Video for full sermon below. This quote above starts at 4:10.

Missionary Book: Give Me This Mountain

Helen Roseveare (1925-2016) was a missionary doctor who served the Lord in the Belgian Congo. Give Me This Mountain is her story.  It is not easy to read because of the persecutions that she faced, but her desire to give glory to God despite the difficulties should be an encouragement to all. I encourage you to read this book.


Justin Taylor, from the Gospel Coalition, has written a short summary of her story here, including several quotes from her.


And if you don't read the book, at least watch the following videos (not something you will hear from me often!).

Review: The Biblical Counseling Guide for Women

Recently, my church went through a series on pastoral counseling from Master's Seminary that is available for free on YouTube. It is essentially biblical counseling taught to pastors, but applicable to everyone. It was wonderful, and although at times it was a little dense with information, I highly recommend it.

When I saw The Biblical Counseling Guide for Women by John D. Street Jr. and Janie Street available for review, I was excited because it fit in exactly with what I had just learned!

First, what is biblical counseling? Or, what is the goal? According to the book,

"In short, it is to help a counselee live a life of obedience and faith, and thus to be more Christlike (John 6:35-40). This is accomplished by living out the implications of the gospel in the midst of your problems, seeking to bring all of your life under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. The goal is not simply a short-sighted attempt to get a woman out of her problems, even though, when a person follows Christ's admonitions, her problems will often eventually be resolved."

(Lest you balk a the end of the last sentence, it does go on to say, "However, some problems will not go away, even after you have faithfully obeyed Christ." You'll have to buy the book to read the rest.)

This book is not a handbook filled with charts and lists of Bible verses. That's not to say that the information isn't there, but it is in story form.  Each chapter details the story of a woman and the sin with which she is struggling. It works through the entire process, often starting at a point before she realizes that she needs help. It is essentially a case study on various issues that incorporates biblical counseling principles and applications. It addresses the most common features of each issue but is not meant to be comprehensive.  

The chapters included are:

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Appearance
• Bitterness
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Chemical Abuse
• Depression
• Eating Disorder: Anorexia
• Grief
• Guilt
• Marital Unfaithfulness: Adultery
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Panic Attacks
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Transgenderism
• Victim of Abuse

Now, I like charts. A lot. And I felt a little deflated when I realized they weren't there. But, I realized, the benefit of this approach is that I need to read and assimilate the material instead of just referencing it. In other words, in order to use it, I need to own it. I can't take a shortcut and flip to a chart. Need a verse on anxiety? Tsk, tsk...read the chapter, study the verses and context - no shortcuts!

One of the features that the book contains to help you own the information are questions for discussion. Here are a couple of samples from the chapter on anxiety:

1. Many people make excuses for ongoing sin, saying that some sins cannot be overcome, that they are just a part of who we are. Read Philippians 4:4-9 and 2 Timothy 6:16-17. Write down the reasons why these excuses cannot be true.
2. What aspects of God's character are under attack when we fail to put off sinful anxiety?

As you can see, these questions will be very helpful in helping you understand the material.

I highly recommend this book for every woman. Not only will this help prepare you to biblically counsel a friend, but it will also give you compassion and understanding for those that struggle with sins that you don't. 

Disclaimer: I received this ebook free from the publisher.

Review: The Quiet Place

What is it?

The Quiet Place is a daily devotional written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  The content of the devotionals has been adapted from several of Nancy's books as well as transcripts from her radio programs.  So, if while reading you find something vaguely familiar, as I did, it could be because you have, indeed, heard it before.

In the preface, the author writes, "I would hasten to remind you, however useful such a resource may be, it can be in no way substitute for getting into the Word itself.  Think of this book, or any other devotional book, as merely an appetizer, a "pre-taste" of the meal to come.  These readings are not intended to supplant your need for God's Word, but simply to create a hunger, stimulate your appetite, and tune your senses and heart to long for more of Him."  I love it!  I love that way she puts her own writings in their proper place.

How is it organized?

This is a yearly devotional staring with January 1 and ending with December 31.  It also includes leap day, February 29, which brings the total readings up to 366.  Each day contains a verse, some thoughts related to the verse (usually containing a story) and application questions.  The application questions are really the gem of this book.  They are very specific and designed to elicit a response from the reader.  If taken seriously, these questions could serve as an evaluation of your spiritual health and a call to personal holiness.

What did I think?

I have several devotionals that I use and love.  Spurgeon's Morning and Evening causes me to meditate on the doctrinal richness of our faith and love the Lord with greater affection.  Elisabeth Elliot's A Lamp Unto My Feet leads me to repentance.  A lot.  She has a way of unearthing and exposing sins I've grown comfortable with.  The strength in Nancy Leigh Demoss' The Quiet Place is its emphasis on application and call to action.  It would be difficult to walk away from the day's reading without a specific action to accomplish or principle to meditate on.

I highly recommend this book.  I look forward to starting 2013 with this book as a part of my daily Bible time.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

An Amazing Testimony

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The following excerpt, from In the Land of the Blue Burqas by Kate McCord (a protective pseudonym), details the amazing conversion of the author.  (Ok, every conversion is amazing!)  Let us never doubt the power of the Word of God!

The author has just finished telling the story of a nun she met who was working in a shelter.  She was astounded by the love the nun displayed for the girls she worked with….

"Several days later I flew back to southern California and went back to work.  I shared the story of the nun and her love with a coworker.  He responded with the gospel.  I was furious and wouldn’t have any of it.  Exasperated, he challenged me to read the Bible and figure it out for myself.

                I took up the challenge.

                I’m very particular about books and always assumed that one must read them from one end to the other.  In those days, I didn’t understand that the Bible is really a collection of books written over several thousand years by different authors.  I thought of it as one book, so I started in Genesis.

                It took several months for me to read the book, but the results were cataclysmic in my life.  In the pages of the Old Testament, I met the God of the universe and found Him beautiful.  I was astonished, first, by how honest the Old Testament is about the nature of people.  We’re always running off in wrong directions.  I suppose I expected the Bible to make all those Jewish heroes look perfect, but it didn’t.  Every one of them seemed to put his foot down his throat, and that was a thing I recognized.  What really captivated my attention was God’s unremitting love, His patience and willingness to continually forgive and restore. 

                Somewhere during my reading of the Old Testament, I prayed my second real prayer: “God, if You’re out there, if You’re real, I want to know you."

                Eventually I got lost in the minor prophets.  I had managed to finish the book of Hosea, but only barely.  I struggled.  I still thought I needed to read the Bible from one end to the other to understand it, and Hosea had completely baffled me and the next prophetic account wasn’t any easier.

                Someone, I can’t remember who, told me to jump ahead to the New Testament.  They told me that was where I’d find the story of Jesus and I needed to read it.  Since Hosea was so baffling, I thought I might as well take the advice.  I read through Matthew and then started on Mark.  By Luke, I was pretty sure I was losing my place because I seemed to be reading the same stories over and over again.  I think that’s when I realized that each book in the Bible was written independently.

                At that time, I absolutely did not believe that Jesus was God.  I understood from reading the Gospels that the disciples did believe that, but I couldn’t.  I’m sure it was a reflection of the Jewish influence I’d had.  I was absolutely convinced that Jesus was just another prophet.  Somewhere in the middle of Luke I prayer my third seeking prayer:  “God, if this Jesus if You, You have to prove it to me because I don’t believe it.”

                I suppose by then I was convinced that God was real.  I’m not sure when that happened, but it had.  I would love to say I had some sort of revelatory experience when I just knew that Jesus was real and that He was God come in the flesh to save me.  If there was such a moment, it must’ve happened in the middle of the night because I just woke up one day and knew that I knew that I knew.  Much later, I read that faith is a gift of God.  By then, I had received it.

                 I still didn’t know what to do in response to what I was learning and experiencing.  I never occurred to me to go to church.  I really didn’t associate church with faith.  I continued reading.  The book of John was mesmerizing, the book of Acts, stunning.  I skipped Paul completely.  Somewhere along the line, I had learned that Paul was a misogynist, a man who hates women, and since I’m a women, I figured it was best to skip him.  I jumped ahead to Hebrews.  I had no idea that some people think Paul wrote Hebrews.  I just read it.

                Hebrews put the pieces of the Old Testament in order and explained how Jesus fulfilled what was written before.  I was astounded.  I had read so many passages in the Old Testament about sin, repentance, and confession that the explanation in Hebrews clarified how Jesus fit into all that.  By then, I believed completely that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice who took away the sins of the world.

                I still didn’t know what to do about it.  After all, Jesus wasn’t in my apartment for me to lay hands on.

                Finally, I reached the first letter of John.  There’s an amazing verse there that says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”  The pieces clicked into place.  I knew exactly what I had to do.

                Now I should probably point out that none of this was easy.  At first I had been quite offended that God had the audacity to tell me how much in my life was sin.  Who did He think He was?  My life was my own.  Eventually, my desire to know God and my amazement at how beautiful He was overcame my attachment to my lifestyle, but that was a slow process.  I came to understand that I had to give my entire life to God, not just part of it.  It took me several months to agree to that, and it was definitely an agreement.

                Finally, by the time I reached 1 John, I was ready.  I read the words about confessing my sins and remembered the Old Testament model of laying hands on the sheep and confessing the sins of the people.  I was sure I had to confess all of my sins, so that’s what I tried to do.  It wasn’t easy, and of course I couldn’t even recognize all my sins, let alone confess them, but I did what I could.  I got down on my knees and began.  I confessed everything I could think of, and as I did, I felt as if layer after layer of chain mail was being pulled off my body.  I wept through the experience.  When I stood us, I knew that I knew that I was a new person.  I was totally forgive and completely cleansed.  I absolutely understood that.  I also recognized, with deep gratefulness, that God had loved me before I committed my life to him just as much as He loved me afterward.

                Later I found a church and, more than a few years after that, to Afghanistan."


Now, isn't that amazing!  The grace of God and the power of the Word working to draw this women to salvation.  AMAZING!

(And, yes, expect an upcoming review on this book.)

Review: The Hole in Our Holiness

From the inside cover:

"The hole in our holiness is that we don't seem to care much about holiness.  Or, at the very least, we don't understand it.  And we all have our reasons for it: Maybe the pursuit of holiness seems legalistic.  Maybe it feels like one more thing to worry about in your already overwhelming life.  Maybe the emphasis on effort in the Christian life appears unspiritual.  Or maybe you've been trying really hard to be holy and it's just not working!  Whatever the case, the problem is clear: too few Christians look like Christ and too many don't seem all that concerned about it.  

This book is for those of us who are ready to take holiness seriously, ready to be more like Jesus, ready to live in light of the grace that produces godliness.  This is a book about God's power to help us grow in personal holiness and to enjoy the process of transformation."

Well, there you have it. The above text is a better summary of the book than I could ever hope to write.  But what I can write (as a reviewer) is that, in my opinion, DeYoung accomplished exactly what he intended to accomplish in defining the hole in our holiness.    

DeYoung begins the book by establishing that there is an enthusiasm gap between what "Christ has saved us from" and "all that Christ has saved us to." The author says, "Shouldn't those most passionate about the gospel and God's glory also be those most dedicated to the pursuit of holiness? I worry that there is an enthusiasm gap and no one seems to mind."

After the problem is established the book defines what holiness is and is not, unpacks some theology and makes it understandable (union with Christ, definitive and progressive sanctification, indicatives vs. imperatives) and exhorts the reader to holy living. That is a brief snapshot of the book.  

I like this book. A lot. The message is applicable and accessible to all believers. It is not only for those in ministry or those who "follow" Kevin DeYoung's blog or those who read dozens of theology books every month. It is for everyone with a passion for holiness. And, especially, it is for those where that passion is absent.

My reading time in limited to evenings after the children are in the bed, the house is picked up, the homeschool lessons for the next day are planned, etc. Therefore, I'm very selective about the books that I read. This one made the cut not only once, but twice. After I finished it I turned to the front and started again. There was so much scripture that I want to look up and meditate on.  

The book is not long (146 pages) and the reading is not hard, but it is rich in application so I suggest you read it slowly. Study questions are included in the back of the book.  I encourage you to put The Hole in Our Holiness on your Amazon wish list!  :-)  

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

What I've Been Reading

Ashamed of the Gospel, When the Church Becomes Like the World by John MacArthur -  Thanks to Jane over at Prairie Days for bringing this to my attention. I started reading the 1993 edition that I borrowed from the library. Excellent book, although I thought it could benefit from an update. My pastor saw me reading and asked if I wanted to borrow the 2010 edition from his shelf. Ah, it has been updated! Good idea.  

Love and Friendship, Three Sisters, and A Collection of Letters by Jane Austen -  Those of us who appreciate the writings of Jane Austen mourn the fact that she only wrote six complete novels. The stories in this book are some of her earliest writings. It is a short book (59 pages), but if you love Jane Austen you just might find it as entertaining as I am.

Bob Jones Bible Truths, Book A, Learning from the Life of Christ - This is the Bible curriculum for my 7th grade daughter. Since I was too thrifty to buy the answer key I've been reading through the book and creating my own answer key.  

Sweet Journey by Teri Maxwell -  This book is a Bible study that will help you develop the foundation of spending time in the Word.  A few of the topics addressed are:

• practical aspects of time in the Word
• prayer and creating a prayer notebook
• scripture memorization
• verse notebook

After I finish this book I plan to go through it again with my daughter.  It is basic, but it is the basics that we often neglect!

Managers of Their School by Teri Maxwell - This was a reread.  I just need a shot in the arm as we will be starting our full homeschool schedule tomorrow.  Good practical advice here. 

  

**A reminder that I don't agree with everything in every book that I read.  Just because I post a book does not mean I endorse 100% of what the author says.  Use discernment when reading.**

Journible

What is a Journible?  A Journible is a cross between a Bible and a journal.  Hence the name - Journible.  It is basically a Bible study tool that aids you in copying whole books of the Bible.

  How does it work?  Let's say you buy the Journible for the book of John.  It is a basic black journal with "John, The 17:18 Series" written on the front.  The paper is nice and thick and the binding doesn't feel cheap.  When you open the book you will see lined pages with chapter and verses on the right hand side.  The verse numbers are spaced based on the length of each verse.  That is where you copy the book of John.  On the left side you can write notes on the text.  There are some lightly printed promts to help you with that.  (You can download sample pages here.)

I started using my Journible this week.  It contains Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st & 2nd Thessalonians.  Since I have been memorizing the books of Philippians I started my "copywork" there even though it is in the middle of the book.  I've found it to be a good excerise in slowing down and really thinking about the words.  Even words that I've repeated dozens of times while memorizing.

Click here to read my friend Katrina's post on Journibles.

The following Journibles are currently available:

• Proverbs
• Romans
• John
• Luke
• Psalms (2 books)
• Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st & 2nd Thessalonians
• 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews
• James, 1st & 2nd Peter, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd John, Jude

Visit their website here for more information.

Review: Then Sings My Soul

"Hymns are distillations of the richest truths of God,versified, emotionalized, set to music, and released in the mind and from the mouth.  They're miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly to worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise.  They're bursts of devotional richness with rhyme and rhythm.  They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemer's praise."  ~~page 5~~

{{I really, really like this book.}}


How the Book is Organized
Then Sings My Soul is book 3 in a series written by Robert J. Morgan.  The book is divided into four sections.  The first section called "The History of Hymnody" traces the development of hymns from the Bible through modern gospel songs and contemporary praise.  At only 43 pages in length, this is well written but brief overview.  The second section highlights 56 hymns.  Each hymn has a two page layout- the left page showing the musical score with words and the right page giving biographical information about the author and perhaps a brief story behind the hymn.  Section three highlights six of the author's favorite hymn stories and shares the full story.  And in section four, the author shares some advice and opinion on how hymns should be used in private and in practice.  


What I Thought
Well, I already gave it away the beginning, but I really liked this book.  I was fascinated by the historical perspective that he provided.  I learned the real story behind "It is Well With My Soul" (sorry, but we generally only hear the abridged version) and that "Jesus Loves Me" is actually a hymn with three full verses.  And, I was encouraged to not only sing hymns, but also memorize and read them.


Throughout the book, the author emanated a  passion for hymns.  It was clear that he thoroughly researched the stories for his book.  I don't agree with everything the author wrote in regards to how hymns should be used in public, nor do I agree that every "hymn" he included was worthy to be included (for example, "Up On the Housetop").  However, I think this book would be a worthy addition to any library.


I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze book review program in exchange for an honest review.

Review: What Is the Mission of the Church?

From the publisher:

Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions?

Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists.

Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.

How the book is organized:


This book is divided into three sections.


The first section is called "Understanding the Mission."  In this section, which encompasses a quarter of the book, the authors do a careful study of several Biblical texts and define what the mission of the church should be.  In essence, they begin the book by immediately answering the question posed in the title.  In their words, the mission of the church is "to go into the world and make disciples  by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands not and in eternity to the glory of God the Father."


The second section of the book is called "Understanding the Categories."  Topics included are the gospel, social justice, God's redemptive role and the new heavens and new earth.  There is a lot of exposition and defining in this section.  


The last section is called, "What We Do and Why We Do It."  This is the section that people like me read first - application.


What I thought:


This book is thorough, thoughtful and Biblically based.  It is well researched and heavily footnoted.  The authors do an excellent job of anticipating objections to or misunderstanding of their position and face them head on.  This authors also wrote with a humility that should disarm the defenses of their critics.  


I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Desiring God DVD

Generally, I'm not a big fan of watching a movie before (or instead of) reading the book.  But, in this case, I made an exception.  


Desiring God, the book, has been on my bookshelf for years and years.  I've started it several times but never made it past the first chapter.  So, I was excited about the opportunity to review Desiring God, the DVD.


Contents
In a nutshell, the contents of this DVD revolve around defining and understanding Christian hedonism and "will help individuals and groups understand that the supreme calling of life is to "glorify God by enjoying Him forever."  (from product description)


Organization
This DVD contains a series of lectures, designed for personal or group study.  Each section is about 20-25 minutes long.  Ideally, the DVD would be used with the DVD study guide, which is not included but purchased separately.  I did not have the study guide and since I like to take notes (weird, I know), it would have been helpful not only to cement the information but also to see where he was going sometimes.  Pastor Piper did use an overhead projector that he scribbled notes on, which I fould helpful.  (For my younger readers, this is an overhead projector.  It's just one more casualty in a world of Powerpoint and iPads.)  


Summary
Overall, I think this is a valuable resource.  I personally wouldn't spend $30 for personal use but perhaps it would be a reasonable investment for a group study.


I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Quote: All A Mistake?

I was browsing my bookshelves this afternoon looking for books I've read more than once (that's for another post :-) when I found this dog eared friend.  Here was one of the pages that I had marked.

"It is easy to conclude, when things turn out badly, that it was all a mistake to begin with.

The facts of the gospel do not bear this out. Think of Jesus' choice of apostles. He spent a whole night in prayer before He made his selection. Judas was one of his choices. Peter affirmed, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, "He was one of our number and had his place in this ministry" (Acts 1:17 NEB). Things could not have turned out worse for him or for Jesus because of him, yet Scripture nowhere suggests that the original choice was a mistake. Judas was still a man, still free to sin.

When we must make decisions, we should bring to bear on them scriptural principles, prayer, and all the intelligence God has dealt out to us. Then we must go on quietly in faith, knowing that the results of our obedience are God's responsibility, not ours."

~excerpt from A Lamp Unto My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot, page 165

Review: Give Them Grace

Give Them Grace is parenting book written by mother/daughter team Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson.  But this is not your typical parenting book.  There are no formulas, checklists or quid pro quo assurances that good parenting will produce good children.  In fact, trying to produce "good" children is exactly what we shouldn't be doing.  If our children have (the appearance of) goodness without the gospel, they have nothing.  

"It's the premise of this book that the primary reason the majority of kids from Christian homes stray from the faith is that they never really heard it or had it to begin with.  They were taught that God wants them to be good, that poor Jesus is sad when they disobey, and that asking Jesus into their heart is the breadth and depth of the gospel message."  page 18

And that is where grace comes in.  The authors will challenge you to infuse the gospel of Christ into your parenting and to use the law to show your children their desperate need for a Savior.  


Though this book doesn't offer formulas and checklists that will guarantee your success as a parent it does offer practical suggestions.  Through personal stories and sample conversations the authors will help you incorporate the gospel into everyday life.  However, these sample conversations are not to be memorized or read verbatim.  Some reviewers complained that they are too long.  I agree.  But they are not meant to be read to your children.  If you own the principles you won't need a script.      


I wore my pencil out underlining in this book.  And now that I've finished it I'm going to start it over again.  It was both overwhelmingly convicting and refreshingly encouraging.


I loved this book.  I needed to hear this message.  Frankly, I think we all need to hear this message.  Whether you are a parent or not, this book should be at the top of your reading list.


I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dug Down Deep

From the publisher:

Dug Down Deep is a systematic theology like you've never seen it before.  Readable.  Relevant. Powerful.  As best-selling author Joshua Harris shares his own journey from apathetic church-kid to student with a burning passion to truly know God, you'll be challenged to dig deep into the truths of God's Word.

With humor, conviction, and compelling insight, Dug Down Deep cover the basics of faith - God, scripture, Jesus, the Cross, salvation, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, and the church.  Don't settle for superficial faith; dig deep.

Format:


The author uses an style unusual for most books on doctrines.  Basically, you read a page or two of personal stories and then a page or two of doctrine.  So it is a biographical/theological mix.  The writing style is very easy to read.  The author uses a lot of sentence fragments.  On purpose.  Unfortunately.  I prefer complete sentences.  But, I get that this is an issue of style.


This edition of the book includes a reflection and discussion guide at the end of the book.  This would be a great resource if you were going through this book in discipling a younger person or with a group.  He also includes a recommended reading list to further explore specific doctrines.


My thoughts:


Joshua Harris does a wonderful job of simplifying complex doctrines such as the imminence and transcendence of God, the atonement and the incarnation.  There was at several spots that I marked to share with my children.  For some  doctrines (specifically tongues and healing) he seemed to flip-flop from page to page on what his beliefs really were.  In referring to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit he said, "I'm going to do my best to skirt the controversial issues associated with him."  He tried but it made for confusing reading.


The author is very candid.  He openly shares how he has struggled in his journey to know what he believes and how to live it.  But his candor tended to be coupled with language that was occasionally....(and I've thought long and hard about the word I'm using)....indelicate.  To me it seemed unnecessary and out of place considering his topic - doctrine.  (Ok, in my mind I found myself repeatedly saying, "Seriously, did you have to say it that way?")


Overall, I think that this is a valuable book for basic theology.  And hopefully it would be a springboard for deeper study.  However, I personally wouldn't recommend it to everyone because of the language he sometimes chooses to use.      


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Review: We Shall See God

In We Shall See God, Randy Alcorn scoured the sermons of Charles Spurgeon's and compiled his thoughts on Heaven in a devotional format.  (Heaven, which according to Randy Alcorn should be capitalized because it is a real place and a proper noun. :-)


From the publisher:

No author in history has more material in print than Charles Spurgeon. During his lifetime, Spurgeon and his writings affected the world far and wide. Today, nearly 120 years after his death, countless people continue to have a passion for this London preacher, and more and more discover him every day. Some of Spurgeon’s most powerful sermons were those that he preached on the topic of Heaven. Up until now, however, very few of these sermons have been accessible to a mass audience. In what is sure to become an instant classic, best-selling author Randy Alcorn has compiled the most profound spiritual insights on the topic of eternity from these sermons and arranged them into an easily-accessible, highly inspirational devotional format complete with his own comments and devotional thoughts. Whether you are familiar with the works of Charles Spurgeon or not, you are in for a treat, as Alcorn invites you to sit at the feet of the Prince of Preachers and discover timeless pearls of wisdom from one of the greatest theological minds of all time.

Format:


The book is divided into fifty day.  Each day begins with details on the sermon from which the day's reading comes, the circumstances surrounding the sermon or the life of Spurgeon at the time and a corresponding verse.  Following that is the sermon excerpt and then comments from Randy Alcorn.  Each day varies in length but averages 4 pages.


My thoughts:


At first, I was hesitant to "like" the fact that Alcorn was making comments on Spurgeon.  In fact, I had a prejudice against these comments.  After all, in his introduction he said "I resisted this [the publisher's desire for him to add additional content], primarily because I thought it presumptuous to coauthor a book with a man who not only towers over me but could not be reached for permission!"  However, as I started reading the devotional I realized the great value in his comments.  There were times where Spurgeon's sermon excerpt swirled in my head never landing in that place of understanding.  For this reason, I was grateful for the thoughtful and clarifying commentary that Alcorn added.  


I like this book.  I highly recommend it.
  
I received this book free from Tyndale in exchange for an honest review.

Quote: If Satan Took Over

"What would things look like if Satan really took control of a city?  Over half a century ago, Presbyterian minister Donald Grey Barnhouse offered his own scenario in his weekly sermon that was also broadcast nationwide on CBS radio.  Barnhouse speculated that if Satan took over Philadelphia (the city where Barnhouse pastored), all of the bars would be closed, pornography banished, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smiled at each other.  There would be no swearing.  The children would say, "Yes, sir" and "No ma'am," and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached."

~ Christless Christianity, Michael Horton 

Quote Collection

I just spent the past 25 minutes demolishing a pile of papers.  Trash, file, to do.  The pile is gone and I'm victorious. 


In the pile I found a scrap of paper with a quote.  I'm a collector a quotes, you see.  However, having never established a good system they tend to float from one paper pile to another.  So, I decided that as they float by me I enter them here on my blog.  That way you will be encouraged or challenged and I will be more organized. 

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more.  He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case.  He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it."  ~Charles Spurgeon~  (source:  sermon "Ripe Fruits, #945")

Review: Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor

Sir Quinlan, a man plaqued with self-doubt and an annoying facial twitch, is not the type of man that most people would choose to be a great knight.  Indeed, his first attempt ended in utter failure.  However, he had an important quality that transcends any skill - a loyalty to the Prince and a willingness to give his life in service to him.  (For a more thorough description see the Amazon product description.)  


I'm not a big fan of stories with battles.  I tend to skim the battles to get to the dialogue.  However, I know so many people who love this series of books that I decided to find out what all the fuss was about.  What did I think?  I really liked it.


The author writes in an engaging style and is able to keep the book moving at a fast pace without losing the reader.  The battles are not long and drawn out (thankfully) but actually quite interesting to read.  A fair amount of the story builds on the first four books in the series and the previous series, The Kingdom series.  I had the nagging feeling that I was missing things because I had not read the previous books.  However, my husband had read all of the books and was always willing to fill me in.  (I think it was short sighted for Waterbrook Multnomah to offer this as a review book in their Blogging for Books program.  They should have offered the first book in the series, not the fifth.)


The story is an allegory.  If you flip to the end of the book and read the discussion questions and answers as you go, you will gain a better understanding of the whole story.  The author does a brilliant job of symbolically representing the vice of apathy through the use of ______________.  (Sorry, I can't tell you.  My husband says it is a spoiler.)    The author commentary in the back of the book explains his purpose for the story.

"Apathy is one of the deadliest sins.  The Lord has strong words of warning for believers who fall into a lifestyle of apathetic behavior.  Apathy spreads to others and hinders God's work.  It also destroys the witness of a believer by demonstrating  to the rest of the world that God's people appear to be no different than anyone else.

One might think the cause of apathy is laziness, and that is sometimes true.  But apathy more often results from spiritual blindness and worldly distraction.  One of the most frustrating challenges for a parent, teacher, or pastor is to motivate young people out of apathy and into a vibrant and productive Christian walk.  Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor attempts to accomplish this by showing the contrast between two knights who choose different paths- one of apathy and one of purpose.  There is great reward both here and in heaven for those who choose to live a life of purpose for Jesus Christ.  It is my heart that this book will encourage people of all ages to live such a life."  

The strength of this book lies not in the writing syle, or choice of words, or the original plot.  All of which are quite good.  No, the strength lies in the message that the author is communicating.  A message that we can all relate to.  What distracts me from serving the King?  It is a sobering question.


I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Amish Prayers

Amish Prayers by Beverly Lewis is a translation of selected prayers from the Germen prayer book Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht.  This prayer book, published in 1708, has remained unchanged since its first printing.  The prayers are topically sorted (Prayers for a New Day, Prayers for Divine Guidance, Prayers of Gratitude) and contain a related scripture verse with each prayer.  


My main interest in reviewing this book was to gain a better understanding of what the Amish believe theologically.  Reading their prayers, I was able to understand a little of what they believe.  The prayers are reveal and deep yearning to follow the Lord in all ways.  Here is a sample prayer from the chapter titled "Prayers of Repentance."

Lord, I have been disobedient.  I confess this with a humble heart and come to you like a child to his father and say:  I am heartily afraid because of my great sin.  I have sinned, O Father, and done evil before you.  Oh, have mercy on me, I beg you from the bottom of my heart, and save me from my temptation.  O Father, comfort me again with your fatherly aid.  I call on you from my heart like David, dear God and Father!  Create in me a clean heart like David, dear God and Father!  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and give me a right spirit, that I may from this day forward serve you humbly and wholeheartedly in love and trust, in safety, and with childlike hope.   Amen.

Amish Prayers contains beautiful illustrations. However, for a prayer book I found them distracting.  The illustrations are focused on the Amish and the prayers are focused on the Lord.  They seem to be competing with one another.  


I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.  

Review: Rediscovering Church Fathers

 I am grateful to Crossway for the opportunity to review Rediscovering Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church by Michael Haykin.  I am no theologian. When I received this book and saw the accolades on the back cover from really smart people I thought, "Yikes! I'm sunk.  Why did I agree to read and review this book?"  However, my fears were completely unfounded.  This book is well written and quite accessible for even the non-theologian.


From the publisher:

While history never repeats itself exactly, there is deep wisdom we can glean and apply to the church today. Michael Haykin, author of Rediscovering the Church Fathers explains, “the early centuries of the Church saw Christianity threatened by a number of theological heresies [and] many of these heresies has reappeared from time to time in the long history of Christianity. Knowledge of the way that Christians in the past defended the faith against Gnosticism would provide helpful ways of responding to Postmodern spirituality today."

The intent of the author was not simply to provide biographical sketches of church fathers.  Had he done that I may have walked away with interesting trivia (Origen's mother hid his clothes, thereby forcing him to stay home, so he couldn't join his father in prison).  However, beyond trivia there would be no real application.  Instead, Haykin chose his subjects not based on the interesting lives that they led, but as the above quote states, the heresies that they dealt with.

"What was critical was not primarily the choice of figures but the issues that they wrestled with in their lives as believers, for these issue are central to the Patristic era: martyrdom, monasticism, and discipleship; witness to an unbelieving world and mission; the canon and interpretation of Scripture; and the supreme issue of this era, the doctrine of the Trinity and worship." page 29

By choosing his figures in this manner, I found it quite easy to make application to today.  Indeed, the author stated in the first chapter that one of the reasons that we should reading the church fathers was "as an aid in defending the faith." (page 22)  


The following chapter list will give you a better idea of his choice of figures.
1.  Rediscovering the Church Fathers:  A Vital Need for Evangelicals
2.  Dying for Christ:  The Thought of Ignatius of Antioch
3.  Sharing the Truth:  The Letter to Diognetus
4.  Interpreting the Scriptures:  The Exegesis of Origen
5.  Being Kissed:  The Eucharistic Piety of Cyprian and Ambrose
6.  Being Holy and Renouncing the World:  The Experience of Basil of Caesarea
7.  Saving the Irish:  The Mission of Patrick
8.  Walking with the Church Fathers:  My First Steps on a Lifelong Journey


There are three specific things that I like about this book.  First, the author spends the first chapter detailing the reasons that we should study the church fathers.  I think that is very profitable (and very professor-like) because it caused me to read the book with specific purposes in mind.  Second, the book is heavily footnoted at the bottom of every page.  I hate footnotes at the end of the book and having to flip back and forth.  Most people probably don't bother but I'm a die hard footnote reader.  By putting them within the book the author is saying, "This is important.  It is here for you to read."  Second, I love the writing style.  If this professor teaches in the same manner that he writes, I'm sure that his classes fill quickly.  His writing style is conversational and engaging.  He doesn't dumb down the material but he certainly doesn't make it more difficult than it needs to be.  (Really smart people can sometimes unintentionally do the latter.)


This is a book that I'm glad I have on my bookshelf.  I would highly recommend it to you. 


I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.