Going Deep : A Review

Going Deep

by

Gordon MacDonald

(ISBN: 0785226087)

I was dubious as I began to read this book. I had not read its predessor (Who Stole My Church), so had no idea what I was about to discover. But when I found that the book was a first-person, fictional, devotional, it seemed on the surface to be a flawed concept.

I was wrong. The book was an easy read - yet full of theological and practical insight as an experienced pastor is challenged, first by God and then by his church, to redefine his ministry. Rather than being the church’s CEO, he was to become its CTO - the Chief Training Officer. Rather than running the business of the church, he was to become the main discipler within the church.

It took time to understand what God would want - but with the advice of a high school principle, his wife, and the local Reformed Rabbi, he gradually understood what God would expect of him - we then watch him fulfill those expectations.

The book itself is a daily, weekly, or periodic look (using a undated calendar) at how Pastor MacDonald (remember, it is fiction) changes his ministry. Practicality is mixed with principles as the author takes us through two years of his life as he changes his job description - and he does a good job of doing so.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Confirmation : A Review

Confirmation

by

Ralph Reed

(ISBN: 1433669248)

Confirmation has a good premise, but it has a difficult time getting it done. Some may enjoy this version of Washington politics as usual, I did not. If this is an accurate picture of the people (though fictionalized) involved at all levels of the 21st century political scene, then we really need to throw out all the politicians and rebuild our government.

Beginning with a very strange election to the office of the President of the United States, Independent Robert Long must deal a cast of characters that supported him during the election, as well as those from the Republican and Democratic party. Along with the politicos that define Long’s administration, he must also respond to his Clair’s, his wife’s, alcoholism.

Though the President does get his way, in the end, most of those whose lives are touched by the confirmation of a new Supreme Court Justice will find their reputation hurt, their families damaged, and a sad lacking of God’s grace.

This review is based on an Advanced Readers Copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of completing this review.

Expanded Bible : A Review

Expanded Bible

Thomas Nelson Publishers

I have mixed emotions when I see a new edition of the Bible being published. I collect various Study Bibles – the combined knowledge in them allows me to understand some of the wealth of study that has preceded me. But a new edition of the Bible is one more tool that I have will want to study and examine.

Given the opportunity by the publisher to review an electronic copy of a new edition prior to publicatin was an exciting prospect. The best comparison I can make for the Expanded Bible is the Amplified Bible. But there are three advantages of the Expanded Bible over the Amplified Bible:

1. The Amplified Bible (as currently published) was created in 2001, making the Expanded Bible 10 years newer.

2. The additions to the Amplified Bible are clearly marked as their purpose

3. Wide margins for making personal notes as one reads the Bible

Notations are marked using a code that will allow the reader to recognize different types of comments:

• Simple “Expansions” showing alternate meanings of the original Hebrew or Greek words

• “Alternate” meanings that may change the sense of the sentence in which they are found.

• “Literal” meanings of the underlying text

• “Traditional” readings (i.e. KJV) of the text that many readers may be more familiar with but are not used in the current translation.

• “Historical, cultural, theological,” etc. comments designed to help the reader “better understand a verse or passage”

• Cross references to parallel passages

Each type of note is clearly indicated in line with the text – in lieu of traditional footnotes. Though the comments are clearly marked, they occasionally become confused the actual text of scripture. The font of the notes is slightly lighter (i.e. less bold) than the text of the scripture, but it would have been nice if they had been printed in an alternate color as well (e.g. blue).

Other than this one concern, I am looking forward to adding this Bible to my library in November 2011 when it is published and would recommend that others do so as well.

Digital Disciple : A Review

Digital Disciple – A Review

by Adam Thomas

Much of my career was spent responding to the role of technology within the church. Adam Thomas' book has attempted to do just that. He recognizes that “the Tech” both provides opportunities to bring people together – people we may never have met except for the technology we have chosen to use. The relationships developed with the Tech are real, they are limited.

“The Tech” also will put up a wall between those same people. Though efforts have been made to incorporate more than two senses into the connections we make, we will be limited to using only 40% of the senses God has given to us when we use the Tech as our communication medium.

Ultimately, the author argues, relationships have to be intentional. Whether they are relationships with people or with God, we need to work at building them. If the relationships are going to be real and deep we must move beyond the limitations placed by the Tech upon those relationships. And that takes work – hard work.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book
provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating an unbiased review.

Christmas Stories : A Review

Though I have not read a great deal of Max Lucado's work, I have enjoyed what I have read. Similarly, Christmas Stories does not disappoint. It is a collection of short stories, many (if not most) pulled from previous books and sources. In some way, each story points us back to the manger in Bethlehem that day so long ago. But he also points us to an eternal story – not one merely rooted in history, but one that stretches across the ages: from Bethlehem, to rural England, and to the Midwestern USA. Though fiction, the book introduces us to men, women, children, and angels, who may have been effected by the coming of the Christ child that first Christmas day.

If you like Max Lucado, you will like Christmas Stories. If you like Christmas, you will like Christmas Stories. If you like inspirational Christmas stores, you will like Christmas Stories.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book
provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
There was no obligation to write a positive review.

A Heart for Freedom : A Review

A Heart for Freedom
by
Chai Ling

It was the Spring of 1989 and a group of students were beginning to explore how to bring democracy to mainland China. In the midst of the protests that would define much of that Spring in Beijing, a number of students rose to positions of leadership that neither they nor their world would have expected. Chai Ling was one of those students. And A Heart for Freedom is her story.

In 1989, the events on Tiananmen Square, seemed far away. But in those days, God was shaping the heart of a young lady – not only to provide leadership to the students of China, but also to serve Him.

A Heart for Freedom provides a look at the students, the leaders, the history, that defined much of the world's attitude toward China for the last 20 plus years. We see the fear, the frustration, and the concerned that defined the student leadership of those events.

But A Heart for Freedom is more – it is also the story of a young woman growing up in a traditional Chinese home who matures as a student leader, completes her education in the United States, and starts a highly successful business. As the book ends, we find that she has also come to understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That journey is just starting for Chai Ling, but it may be just as exciting as the first 40 years of her life. For the answer to that, we will have to wait for Part II of her memoirs.

This review was based on a pre-publication copy of the book supplied by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review but have willing done so.

Moses Standing Before the Burning Bush

What God Promises to the Israelites:

1. Deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians
2. Bring them out of that Land to

- a good and broad land

- a land flowing with milk and honey

- the place of

the Canaanites,

the Hittites,

the Amorites,

the Perizzites,

the Hivites,

and the Jebusites.

God promises all this to Moses as he stood, bare foot, before the burning bush. I wonder how Moses felt - meeting God for that first time. He had heard stories about others that had met God. People like Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He had probably heard of Job and all of his problems and how God had broken into his life. And now God was breaking into His life. And it all started when Moses was willing to say, "Here I am". (Cp Is 6:1-8)

Have I said, "Here I am!" to God? Have I?