Against Nothingness

James Emery White.  What They Didn't Teach You in Seminary: 25 Lessons for Successful Ministry in Your Church .  Baker Books, 2011. 192 pgs.  I came to this book with low expectations. The reputation of the author drew me in but that alone was not enough to overcome the skepticism which the title engendered. Then, add to that a subtitle which promises a list leading to success? Oh boy… By the time I was finished this book, however, my opinion was completely reversed. What did overcome my initial skepticism, swiftly and completely, were the wise and considered words of James Emery White. His discussion ranges from leadership and administration issues, to words about soul care and family. White truly runs the gauntlet of difficult issues pastors face in their positions. In most chapters he is sincere, wise, and helpful. Naturally there were a few chapters that I found to be less so, but they are hardly worth mentioning next to amount of just plain good advice in

It can be difficult to separate my wants and my needs. I do live in a culture which works vociferously against said differentiation. But even if I didn't, my own heart and mind would clamor enough to make this distinction difficult. It is, after all, my own sinful tendencies which make the cultural voices so powerful, not the other way around.  Do I need the newest? The best? To be first? No, of course not. But try telling that to my heart. Try telling that to the raw desire which wells up when I consider making purchases and decisions.  Of course, this problem does not arise only in the midst of my consumerism. It also arises in the midst of my spiritual life. Throughout this summer the interns at our church have been leading our prayer meeting group through the fruit of the Spirit . The temptation for me is to look at each one and say "I need to do that more..." I need to be more loving, more patient, and so on. It is almost true.  However, I need to co

Stephen R. Lawhead.  The Bone House (Bright Empires) . Thomas Nelson, 2011. 416 pgs.  One year ago, less one week, I posted my review of Stephen Lawheads  The Skin Map , which is the first book in the "Bright Empires" series. Here, then, is the second book in that series. The Bone House  continues the story of Kit Livingston in his quest for the skin map. One piece has been found, but the stakes have been raised. Kit has inherited this quest from his grandfather, Cosimo, but Kit is now on the run, and, except for the help of his surprisingly resourceful girlfriend Mina, on his own.  This book was a pleasant surprise. It is an incredibly rare series which gets better in the second book, but Lawhead has done just that. He has maintained the depth of character development, excellent descriptions of the scenes, and at the same time upped the pace and removed my one qualm with the first book in this series: the confusion of jumping from time to time. In this book,

Darlene Zschech.  Art of Mentoring, The: Embracing the Great Generational Transition . Bethany House, 2011. 187 pgs.  If you read the title and description of this book, even if you read the introduction, you will get the impression that what this book is about is mentoring across the generation gap. Helping those who have more experience in ministry and life to mentor those with less. You would be wrong. Somewhere between the introduction and the first chapter, there is a shift. Instead of being about the art of mentoring, this book is about the fourteen values that Darlene Zschech wants to encourage leaders to model. These fourteen values range from what you would expect (humility, excellence, and people) to some less so (energy, genius, and the squeeze).  They all make sense as stand alone values, though how they were chosen is beyond me, but they do not fit together well as a book.  Therein lies my problem. There are may great things in this book; good advice, wisdom,

Skye Jethani.  With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God . Thomas Nelson, 2011. 224 pgs.  This book was provided by Thomas Nelson, through Booksneeze, for review.  The copy for this book might as well read: Why are there so many problems in the church? (A few specifics are listed: burn out, lack of freedom in Christ, etc.) Is it possible we have misunderstood the call of the Christian life? Jethani argues that this is just what we have done. He believes that most Christians in the modern west have settled for less than a relationship with God; they have settled for life under, over, from, or for God when what they ought to desire is life with God.  I think that for many people, Jethani is right. While I am not sure that all the problems of the church can be laid just here, it would certainly take us a long way to get these issues straight. Through the first five chapters Jethani explores the first four ways of relating to God as the failures they are; there are no s

"Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." - Matthew 7:17-18 "One of the most powerful ways to influence the behavior of a system is through its purpose or goal. That's because the goal is the direction-setter of the system, the definer of discrepancies that require action, the indicator of compliance, failure, or success toward which balancing feedback loops work. If the goal is defined badly, if it doesn't measure what it's supposed to measure, if it doesn't reflect the real welfare of the system, then the system can't possibly produce a desirable result. Systems, like the three wishes in the traditional fairy tale, have a terrible tendency to produce exactly and only what you ask them to produce. Be careful what you ask them to produce." - Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems. 

ed: C. Stephen Evans.  Exploring Kenotic Christology: The Self-Emptying of God . Regent College Publising, 2009. 360 pgs.  Full disclosure: This book was provided by Regent College Publising for review.  "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,  taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself and became obedient to death--  even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:5-11 Have you ever wondered what this poem/hymn means? What does it mean that

Congratulations to Philip who has won his very own copy of Counterfeit Gods  by Timothy Keller! Good choice by the way; an excellent book :)

As we leave July behind for yet another year I cannot help but wonder why this year summer feels like it has barely started. I don't just mean that time has gone by quickly; it always does. I mean that it felt like spring until recently.  Oh well, on to the top 3 posts of this month: 1. Heaven and Hell : This is an old post, from back in February when the whole Rob Bell controversy was just starting up. If anyone can tell me why this post has suddenly become so popular, I would appreciate it. In the meantime, I am sorely tempted to actually write something about Heaven and Hell.  2. "Rumors of God" by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson  - Short, standard, BookSneeze review of a very good book.  3. Book Giveaway: Celebrating 100 Book Reviews  - I am happy to see this in the top 3. I am giving away a book. There is still time for you to enter (until Noon PST on Wednesday August 3rd), so hurry and make your choice! I hope you enjoy the rest of the sum