gods at war

            Everyone knows or knows of the Ten Commandments.  The first two commandments in particular, you know...the ones about not having any other gods ahead of God or making any graven images, seem to be the ones that most people believe are two of the easiest to follow.  It turns out that not only are they two of the hardest ones to follow now, but they were also two of the hardest to follow back in the times of the Old Testament as well.  gods at war by Kyle Idleman breaks down common idols into simple categories and helps the reader realize how idle they truly are.
            I work in a profession where a college education and additional licensing are required; I take pride in what I do.  This book challenged me in how I view what I do for a living to ensure that it is not an idol or false god in my life.  I may be in a profession that brings status, but it is only because of God's favor that I'm there in the first place.
            Kyle Idleman's gods at war is a powerful expository book that brings a whole new perspective on the concept of the false god and how easily it can make a subtle part in a person's life.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for a challenge to personal growth in his or her Walk.

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

i am not.

            Every man has made the mistake at some point in his life of either believing himself more important than he is, or devaluing himself that he sells himself short.  The problems of pride and stress are things that unite all of mankind.  In his book, I Am Not, But I Know I AM, Louie Giglio uses Scripture and personal anecdotes to weave together an effective teaching that addresses both of these issues and how to overcome them.

            By being transparent enough to reveal his own personal struggles, Giglio uses his life as a backdrop for how to effectively apply the teachings in I Am Not.  My favorite anecdote from the book is one where Giglio shares about being the keynote preacher at a Dove Awards Banquet who delivered a message about our more or less insignificance when compared against God's greatness to a room of multi-platinum recording artists.

            The reader should be aware, however, that while the teaching in this book is great and passionate, Giglio does a better job teaching through speaking.  A reader picking this book up and expecting the same dynamic teaching like one would encounter at a Passion conference will be let down, but only a little.

            Ultimately, I Am Not, But I Know I AM is the perfect read for the Christian who wants a good read to remind them of how much they are loved.  

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

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.