Persecuted by Marshall, Gilbert and Shea

            I live a sheltered life, religiously speaking.  By this, I do not mean that my contact with people is minimal nor that I encounter circumstances and perspectives that perpetually challenge my beliefs.  What I mean is that I am able to practice my faith without fear of death and persecution.  I knew that in reality I was in a minority to find myself like this, but Persecuted opened my eyes to an even darker reality about Christian persecution than what I had thought existed.  Any (Christian) reader who hears the word "persecution" and isn't instantly stirred needs to pick this book up, as it will change everything.
             With an even-handed, academic approach the writers of Persecuted tackle the global issue of Christian persecution and the social injustices that accompany it with a level of emotional appeal that one would not assume to find in a book this loaded with research.  At times, the writing seems a little dry and repetitive, and it can feel easy at times throughout the book to let the gravity of the situations diminish in the mind simply for the fact that it happens so much and is discussed endlessly throughout the book.  If there are any critiques over this book, that is the main and only one for me.
            Persecuted is an accurate, current expository look at the issue of Christian persecution across the planet and persuasive critique of why we need to be aware of it.  Any reader who has picked up Fox's Book of Martyrs would find this a good next step for reading.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a review of the book.  The opinions in this post are my own; I was not obligated to give a positive review.

Do You Want to Read Something Relentless?

            The writer states in Ecclesiastes that, "Finishing is better than starting" (7:8).  This is an ironic verse to begin a book on persevering through trials because while they are better to finish than start, Relentless by John Bevere got better and better as I read it to the point that finishing it was better than starting it.  The title is also ironic, as Bevere is relentless in driving home a message of doing everything possible for the Kingdom and not giving up.
            Relentless is full of Scripture references, with 237 pages and at least one per page on average, it is safe to say that this book is based on Bible, no debate.  But it also contains personal anecdotes, life application examples, and is all done through the heart of a man who cares about people.
            I am hard-pressed to find anything I didn't like about this book, as it is well written and I couldn't put it down.  This book could easily be used in any small-group setting as the center of study.  Read Relentless and thank me later.

I received my copy of the book for free from the publisher in exchange for reviewing it.  I was not obligated to give a positive review; the opinions expressed are mine solely.

Who Do You Think YOU Are?

             Who are you?  What things about yourself do you consider when preparing to answer this question?  In Who Do You Think You Are?, Mark Driscoll has the answer to that question without ever having met you, and that answer is connected to two of the most powerful words in all of Scripture: "in Christ."  Using the book of Ephesians as a backdrop, Driscoll uses these words and their contexts to paint a picture that man, needing only to be found in Christ, is more than he could ever truly fathom.
             Who Do You Think You Are? is full of what Driscoll does best.  If you have ever heard him teach, then this book will not surprise you, and you will not be let down.  This book is chock full of Scripture references to cross-link to the portion of Scripture he is teaching on, applicable examples from the lives of people he knows, and practical advice that the reader can easily apply to his or her life.
            As a person studying to be a credentialed pastor, and as a teacher, I found this book loaded with examples of Bible-centered promises that I can remind people of when talking with them about their problems and their identity.  Who Do You Think You Are? could easily find its place next to anything written by John Ortberg, John Piper, or even Josh McDowell.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wrestles with the fact being in Christ brings rewards through grace and not works.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for writing a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review; my opinions are my own.

"The Searchers" by Joe Loconte

     The Christian life is not a walk in a rose bed; much of the time it is actually a confusing journey of testing which we wrestle through every day.  This could be an accurate paraphrase of The Searchers, the latest from author Joseph Loconte.  Using the backdrop of Cleopas and his travelling partner as they are making the walk to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, Loconte uses a large collection of pop culture references, stories and personal anecdotes, and time-period research to bring to life all the emotional aspects of what the followers of Jesus experienced after witnessing his execution.  In doing so, he also shows the reader that many of these same troubling things that the first century Christians experienced are the same ones we experience today; experiences necessary in order to develop our own faith.
     In this project, Loconte does a great job of picking apart the emotional dynamics of the time surrounding the Crucifixion.  His connections he makes between Century 1 and Century 21 are brilliant and reveal a complex richness in our faith.  At times, I felt a little buried in the various references to movies, books, and songs released over the last 50 years which were mixed in throughout in order to deepen the connections.
     This is a solid book which will catalyze something in every reader who picks it up.  Whether one has been walking with God for decades, months, or not ever, this book is sure to ignite the "Searcher" in all of us.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for reviewing it.  I was not required to write a positive review; my thoughts and opinions expressed are mine.

This book made me want to take an ink pen to its pages...

...and underline things throughout the book. It has been a good while since I have picked up a book that tugged at my heartstrings, convicted me, and engaged me to consider my own faith in the way that Tony Kriz does in Neighbors and Wise Men. Early on in this book, Kriz challenges the idea of sharing one's faith, especially when it is in conflict with the beliefs of another person by telling stories like Jesus did instead of trying to debate the person. The story about how he learned this lesson cleverly frames the remaining 145 pages or so of reading as Kriz walks the reader through the various experiences that helped him redefine what faith means. Kriz is transparently honest with the reader about his faults and flaws as he shares a narrative about finding Jesus and the voice of God in some of the most unlikely places.

Kriz does a great job of taking deeply profound insights and framing them in such a way that they easily hit home with the reader. Tony does this well. I am hard-pressed to find a point of critique for this book because it is well written and there wasn't anything I found in its pages that made me lose interest. The pacing is quick, yet conversational and anyone looking for a book to challenge their faith in an authentic way should sit down with this book, a beverage, and a highlighter and prepare for one wild ride.

I received my copy of the book free from the publisher in exchange for writing a review of it.  I was not obligated to write a positive review; my opinions are my own.

I Am "Fully Alive"

For the sake of avoiding the standard review format, here is something different:

Dear Ken Davis,

Your book Fully Alive is a challenge to the reader to realize that every day is a chance to live his or her life to the fullest; not just because life is available, but because there is a God who through his son has given each of us the ability to live life to the fullest.  I appreciate how you use examples and moments from your own life to show how if we are not embracing each moment that life brings, then we are taking for granted the very opportunities that God has given us.

            Ken, you do a great job of sharing various moments that effectively connect to the ultimate “moral” of each of your lessons throughout Fully Alive which you share in each chapter; I especially connected with one of your early chapters where you share about your granddaughter going missing; that moment when you realize you have to fully rely on God because you can’t control ANYTHING makes you realize how alive you are.  Having listened to you speak before, I can imagine you telling all these stories.  The lessons you share challenge me to want to not miss out on any chance to live; the consequences that can be determined by some of your stories for not living the life God has given can be disastrous otherwise.

            Fully Alive reminds me that every day is a new opportunity.  I would happily recommend your book to anyone who: a) needs a great book to read, or b) anyone who needs a little motivation to make their lives extraordinary.  Thanks for writing such a great book!

Sincerely,

Gerrit

P.S.  I received your copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange reviewing it.  I was not obligated to write a positive review; my opinions are my own.

            

"The God I Never Knew"

                Let it be stated from the outset, I am a member of a Pentecostal fellowship (Assembly of God) that believes in the reality of Holy Spirit.  That said, my interest was mildly piqued at the idea of reading this book since I felt at this stage that I knew more than enough that a book introducing Holy Spirit would seem a little elementary.  I was wrong. The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris is an eye-opening teaching in print about the reality of Holy Spirit and how we as Christians are called to let it play a vibrant, active role in our daily lives.  The book is well-written; the reader can see the teacher’s heart come out in this work as Morris uses multiple biblical examples and passages to clearly state and explain the points he is trying to get across.

                I do have issues with the way that Morris explains some of the concepts on Holy Spirit in his teaching.  There are a couple instances in “Session One” where I would question the extent to which he exercises interpretation of the Scripture, but these moments do not detract from the overall cohesiveness of teaching a topic which is brand new to some readers and Christians.

                The God I Never Knew is a good teaching material for both novices and seasoned Christians alike to read for sound, biblical teaching on Holy Spirit.  The book’s moments where I might question the direction that Morris is taking the reader are quickly alleviated by reading the teaching sections in context.  I recommend this book for anyone wishing to learn how Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the Christian life.

I received my copy of the book for free from the publisher in exchange for reviewing it.  I was not obligated to compose a favorable review; my opinions are my own.