false115637true5867013read5true4502553currently-reading14true4502552to-read
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79763049
The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture (Paperback)
byVishal Mangalwadi bookshelves: to-read
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door: Reaching the Heart of the Gay Men and Women in Your World']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79006050
God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door: Reaching the Heart of the Gay Men and Women in Your World (Paperback)
byAlan Chambers bookshelves: to-read
This book was recommended to me by Rick Barth.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71505262
to: Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists (Paperback)byCollin Hansen
I wish there were more books like this one. Collin has done a great job of expressing the current Calvinistic climate in America today. I was amazed at some of the diverse avenues and passion that Calvinism is found in. This book has really helped me to understand some of the reasons that Calvinism is resonating strongly with many of the younger generation.
Collin is definitely passionate himself and provides his on biased arguments in the discussion. But he also does a fair job of presenting the views of those he talked with; even when they were self-defeating views. In discussing some of the conflicts Calvinism has faced today he presented the following quotes from Steve Lawson of Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Al:
I asked Lawson if he would have acted differently in retrospect. Without hesitation he said no. “I don’t mean to say I’m perfect,” Lawson said. “By that I mean that I believe in the sovereign providence of God. God ordered my steps to come to Dauphin Way. God brought me to that church to preach his Word as an expression of his mercy and grace.” But he definitely doesn’t recommend that other Reformed pastors should accept calls to lead Southern Baptist churches that do not share their Calvinist convictions…”You only have one life to live”’ Lawson says to young pastors. “Do you want to drive a car that when you push on the Gas pedal, someone else steps on the brake?”
One thing is certain. The young Calvinist today has a tremendous passion for our transcendent God. For example, Collins quoted Joshua Harris as saying, “I do wonder if some of the appeal and the trend isn’t a reaction to the watered-down vision of God that’s been portrayed in the evangelical seeker-oriented churches…I’m not trying to knock them, but I just think that there’s such a hunger for the transcendent and for a God who is not just sitting around waiting for us to show up so that the party can get started.”
This book is an easy read and yet comprehensive. I enjoyed the book and believe it would be helpful to anyone wanting to better understand the broad spectrum of Calvinism today.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75849521
to: Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it (Paperback)byKen Ham
Ken Ham has teamed up with a Britt Beemer, a survey research specialist. Working together they have surveyed a cross-section of conservative evangelical young adults. After analyzing the results they present the case that our young adults are leaving the church at an epidemic level. However t he most surprising discovery is that the vast majority left the church prior to high school graduation. The youth had questions and challenges for the Christian worldview that were not answered satisfactorily and they left mentally before finally leaving physically.
Ken presents the material in a pretty easy read structure. Their statistics are presented well. I believe the material is a bit week in considering a solution. Ken is very balanced in his presentation. He does a good job of indicating that the focus on music preferences and other worship concerns are not good or bad but they are clearly missing the point. Ken’s point is to re-establish the foundation of God’s Word and especially Genesis and then to make sure we are really living it in a non-compromising manner.
Ken shows that the youth leaving fit into two categories: those who specifically reject faith in God’s Word and those who believe God’s Word but see church as irrelevant. In his argument to return to God’s Word he hopes to win young people to faith through an “evidential apologetic” by knowing and giving well explained reasons to believe. In his argument to “really live” according to God’s Word he hopes to remove the hypocrisy and lack of love that makes the church seem irrelevant.
I believe he neglects the fact that in the Post-Christian western worldview we are raising a generation who believe all truth is relative. A person may say they don’t believe and then have well argued evidence presented and yet still choose not to believe. What’s true for you may not be true for them. Evidence in and of itself is not enough to convince them. Another person may say they believe in those truths and yet hold belief in contrary views at the same time. Truth is a very fluid thing for them. I believe it is very possible that both groups of Ken’s survey may have the same underlying problem – a post modern view of reality.
I think Ken’s book is a great eye opener to the issues facing our churches in today’s generation. I believe it falls short in the answers. We still need a good holistic curriculum that helps build a transformational worldview for our young people. This worldview is solidly based on God’s transcendent character and man’s need for truth authored by a transcendent God. Then returning to Genesis will have a transformation effect in their lives.
I recommend the book but feel it is still lacking some crucial elements.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'Derailed: Lessons Learned from Leaders Who Failed']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75849401
Derailed: Lessons Learned from Leaders Who Failed (Hardcover)
byTim Irwin bookshelves: to-read
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'Kabul 24']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73162629
to: Kabul 24 (Paperback)byBen Pearson
A great missionary biography along the lines of Corrie ten Boom's, "Hiding Place", Kabul24 details the modern times imprisonment of 8 western missionaries and their 16 Afghan employees. Taken just before the 9/11 bombings, they were probably being held as negotiation pieces in the event of retaliation. Until reading about their narrow escape, I was under the assumption that they were released through negotiations. Greater than the political circumstances is the "faith" seen in their lives.
The authors resist the tendency to sensationalize the conditions or faith of these hostages. The result is a story that is easy to see as real and yet amazing. The simple faith and mutual support of believers facing extreme Islamic persecution is convicting. The story honestly presents the kindness and response of devout Islamic people who are deeply touched by the goodness of God's servants. In stark contrast is the immorality of unjust trials, lies and manipulation of the Islamic Taliban. Yet, God blessed them with everything they needed to survive: courage, assistance, wisdom, and help from the most unlikely sources. It is easy to see what we already know; God miraculously cares for each of us.
This book is well written, honest, inspiring and easy to enjoy. I heartily recommend it.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'Romans Unlocked: Power to Deliver']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70866386
to: Romans Unlocked: Power to Deliver (Paperback)byRene A. Lopez bookshelves: currently-reading
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'The Book on Leadership']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48991353
to: The Book on Leadership (Paperback)byJohn MacArthur Jr.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54159937
to: They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations (Paperback)byDan Kimball
Enjoyable. The title sounded like this would be a liberal controversial book. Instead, I found it to only be a controversial book. His primary goal is to open the eyes of the church regarding how the western world views Christianity. He correctly points out that we live in a "post-christian" world today.
Dan Kimball definitely values the church and gathering of believers. He likes to use emergent terms like "missional", "emerging generations", "kingdom living",and last but not least "beer". However, he believes that homosexuality is a sin, that God has an ordained structure for how men and women should fit into the church, that the Bible is God inspired and should be studied literally, that Faith alone in Christ alone is the only way of salvation, and other conservative views.
I was very encouraged by the gracious and respectful manner in which he handled these topics. He provides several good balanced thoughts regarding how to better approach the world around us. I certainly don't agree with all of his conclusions but he did a great job of helping me to think through this.
I do recommend this book.
]]>
<![CDATA[Thomas added 'A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho']]>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/54159918
to: A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)byBrian D. McLaren
This book is an apologetic for exercising a "Generous" "Right Thinking" (orthodoxy). Brian McLaren basically considers every category of Christian view that claims exclusive truth. From denominations, movements and even doctrines Brian will try to persuade you to blur all the lines for the box you fit truth in. However, he never confronts the fact that he feels he has the answer on truth that lead him to blur the lines on truth. I do not recommend this book because it has no true substance.
At times, I felt that Brian addressed some legitimate concerns. This is probably why we see an "emerging" movement that champions these strengths but distances itself from the Emergent movement's unwillingness to consider any revelation from God as absolute truth.
Brian was probably one of the first post-modern theists to purposefully be "raw" and "in your face". One of his most often quoted statements on page 87 is "often I don't think Jesus would be caught dead as a Christian where he physically here today." Another statement designed to illustrate his belief that salvation is to reveal evil to us so we can live better lives: "To recap: we live in danger of oppression and deception, so Jesus comes with saving judgment. When God shines the light of justice and truth through Jesus, the outcome is surprising: the religious and political leaders often turn out to be scoundrels, and the prostitutes and homeless turn out to have more faith and goodness than anyone expected." IN a statement like this Brian uses extreme options to indicate "guilt by association". Religious & Political leaders (who give us absolute truth) are all corrupt and simple people try to scratch out a better life no matter what morals or ethics they break are actually good!
Brian has hole heartedly embraced deconstructionism in his writings. He says things like "Why I am evangelical." But then deconstructs the meaning to what he wants it to mean. So being evangelical is not Evangelical. Communication has broken down.
This book deals with legitimate concerns but provides NO substance in answers.