The Myth of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness in America has become a national pastime . . . a dead-end obsession for satisfaction and fulfillment. In a world so consumed with want, how can we fill our lives with true joy?

In The Myth of Happiness, software engineer turned author Rich Wagner helps dissipate our misunderstandings while revealing the true nature of biblical joy. Besides answering what joy is and isn't, he honestly confronts tough questions like “how can we experience it daily?” and “can we experience joy while battling fear and uncertainty?”

When I think about joy, I’m reminded of a Sunday school chorus like “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy down in my Heart,” the classic hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” or the ever popular “Jesus first; Others second; and Yourself last.” We talk of joy like we know what it's about, but our lives spotlight discontentment, envy and unhappiness. Sadly, we just don’t get it! Wagner helps the Christ-follower to understand the unquenchable joy Christ promises.

He describes joy as "the nature of God pumped through our bloodstream" and states that "The problem with happiness becomes one of attitude and priority not of avoidance."

With where I’m at in my faith-walk, chapter 8 “Driven by Purpose” was revealing and convicting especially the section “The Unpurposed Life.” I don’t want to settle for the cheap substitute of happiness when biblical joy transforms and sustains.

This book will be one of the chosen few I’ll be giving as Christmas gifts this year. Its message of discovering a joy you never thought possible is clearly presented and needs to be heard.

Keep writing Mr. Wagner!

Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear

Without any doubt, it is a “no-brainer” to state that we live in a world overwhelmed with fear. The Age of Anxiety is a term coined to describe the twentieth century. Sadly, the church has been swallowed up by a culture of fear often dictated by the media and politicians. Christ-followers can’t reach out to strangers or even their neighbors, because they just don’t know who they can trust anymore.

Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear is a relevant and practical resource for the academic world as well as leaders in the church. It is the latest volume in the Christian Practice of Everyday Life Series which covers a wide range of topics, such as Living the Sabbath, What about Hitler? and Sidewalks in the Kingdom.

The reader will be challenged to forsake their "ethic of safety" for an "ethic of risk" which reveals itself in hospitality (ch. 8), peacemaking (ch. 9), and generosity (ch. 10). This is not your average pre-dinner appetizer topic. It is a meaty portion of biblical insight and truth every Christ-follower needs to read. The book is laid out in three sections: Diagnosis, Antidote and Recovery with discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Chapter 3, “Why Fearlessness is a Bad Idea” contains the most descriptive, complete and biblical explanation of the fear of the Lord in layman’s terms. I nodded my head in agreement many times (which did cause unexpected neck strain) but also reread sections to grasp a clearer understanding.

God's sovereignty and the doctrine of providence play a central role in moving each of us to risking more of ourselves. In a book full of excellent quotes, Scott-Bader-Saye writes, "Providence, at its heart, has to do with the conviction that our lives and our world constitute a coherent story, a drama, in which God and humankind, together, drive the story toward its proper conclusion."

Although it is not an easy or quick read, I believe Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear is an important read for the life of the Church today.

When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

My garage has a shelf full of neglected table games. Games played often in my youth and occasionally pulled out for my family when the children were younger. Maybe someday they’ll be of great monetary value . . . but then probably not. They certainly bring back memories of days trying to outplay my mom and dad . . . and two brothers at “Scrabble,” “Sorry,” and the ordained card game of “Rook.”

With comical and poignant real-life stories, the author brings together the extended
game imagery. John Ortberg has a pastoral heart and his writing style is conversational.
As a reader, I like being “talked with” instead of “talked to.” He gently reminds Christ-followers to stop chasing the temporal victories of this world and pursue what is
permanent in God’s kingdom. The key is our perspective. As he says, “when the game
is over, it all goes back in the box.”

The rules of gaming for the Christ-follower’s journey are interwoven into the chapters where he looks at the object of the game, the setup, how to play, the hazards and lastly, winning. The chapter titles will bring a smile to the readers face while the pull quotes
reinforce the direction of each section. I was reminded of Donald Trump’s catch phrase “You’re Fired!” as I read the chapter “Resign as Master of the Board.”

When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box is a well-penned instruction manual full of wise counsel on the priorities all believers need to embrace.

Personal and group study tools are included which will help the reader take to heart that which is important enough to remember.

An advanced preview copy was read for this review.

Questions to All Your Answers

Unfortunately, many evangelicals have embraced a Christianized “folk religion” characterized by glib sayings and a bumper sticker theology they’ve never deeply examined. They‘ve done so by simply and blindly accepting what they’ve heard time and time again. Olson, gently but with passionate conviction, states, "We do God no favors by being gullible, credulous, irrational, or uncritical. God gave us minds and expects us to use them."

He examines ten prevalent Christian beliefs and offers Christ-followers the challenge of knowing not only what they believe but why they believe it! In an engaging manner, he addresses commonly held beliefs such as: "It's a Mystery, Just Accept it: So What Do You Say to an Atheist?" "The Bible has all the Answers: So What about Cloning?" and "All Sins are Equal: So is Reusing a Stamp as Bad as Murder?” Olson spotlights these popular Christian cliches and dissects them with the intent of discovering together with the reader whether or not they contain truth. He points out that most have both.

One of the hardest-hitting chapters for me was "God is in Control; So Why is the World Such a Mess?” It definitely caused me to rethink my mindset.
Olson says, “We should be careful about making blanket statements about what God does and does not do.” I’ll need to reread this chapter and to continue reflecting on the author’s words.

I found Questions to All Your Answers at times disconcerting but also delightfully refreshing. It’s conversational, not academic in tone, which makes it inviting for the reader to participate. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are important to encourage the reflective thinking process continuing in the reader’s faith-walk. There is no doubt I needed to read and process through Olson’s insights.

I highly recommend this book to all who name the name of Christ!

Metamorpha

Although the title Metamorpha implies change, Kyle Strobel's first offering is not another typical book about fearing change . . . nor is it dogmatically formulaic in its approach to dealing with the constant state of flux we live with daily.

Within these pages, he warns that, "When we begin to think we have the Bible, or God, or life figured out, 'The Word stops living and becomes a book of proof-texts. This becomes dangerous because when it comes down to it, 'people take precedence over programs and models.' We can't pretend to have all of the answers or have the perfect programs. We need to question things, even when it shakes the core of our faith. There's no reason to be afraid."

Although emergent in thought, the author doesn¹t recklessly deconstruct the tenets of our faith and its history to ground zero; instead he invites the reader to view the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and community through a different lens. "Informers," as he calls them, are used by Christ to shape us into his image.

The line between emerging and evangelical ideologies is straddled, but not to the point of conflicting distraction. Side-by-side comparisons of how "solidified" and "developmental" churches respectably respond to change is also included.

As the part-time drama director in my church, I help select sketches (along with the pastoral staff) that will help facilitate transformational moments for the body of Christ. It is Strobel¹s belief that developing a biblical worldview (vision of life) is key to transforming our ways of how each one of us relates to the world and adapts to change. Metamorpha is not a destination but a journey. Authentic spiritual formation can be a reality in our lives.

The book doesn't overflow with brand new concepts but it was well worth the read. Anyone with the desire to match up their belief systems with their actions should pick up and read a copy of Metamorpha.

Stripped

You'll be sadly mistaken and/or disappoint if you think Stripped is just another book by a megachurch pastor who wants to share quick-fix formulas and bask in the success of his church.

When thinking of Las Vegas, Iselfishly morph into a Pharisee and am instantaneously repulsed by the decadence and glorification of sin. After all, Las Vegas is an American icon full of glitz and glam. Pleasure, money, sex, and another lucky roll of the dice dictates its reality. As Jonah did with the city of Nineveh, many have written the city off as evil and hopeless...but not Jud Wilhite. It is no longer "Sin City" to the senior pastor of Central Christian Church but is becoming Grace City because God's uncensored grace is radically changin lives in the painted desert.

Pastor Jud joins experienced journalist William Taffe to communicate the gripping stories of how God saves souls thought to be beyond rescuing. Raw, messy, and detailed stories of a flying Elvis impersonator, exotic dancers, a casino showgirl, a former "American Idol" semifinalist, a homeless crack addict, and others will soften the readers heart to believing that nobody is beyond God's uncensored grace. The personal accounts are undeniable and unforgettable reminders that Christ followers can't tip toe around Samaria and avoid "those kind of people" but need to walk through and reach out like Christ did.

Woven among the stories are the author's heartfelt and vulnerable thoughts...both uplifting and convicting. Not always black and white, per se.

The last few chapters retelling the story of Sergeant Henry Prendes and family captivates and brings Stripped to a convincing conclusion.

Don't hesitate to pick up a copy, read and then move beyond your comfort zone and out into your Samaria.

Through the Bible, Through the Year

John Stott, internationally acclaimed preacher, scholar, and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2005 offers original, “deeper than Sunday School” insights on the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. As in his other writings, a biblical worldview, is his framework for this project. The author is the epitome of authentic biblical scholarship.

Through the Bible, Through the Year guides readers through the Bible according to the church calendar. But being a gray-haired rebel in blue jeans, I’m not reading the sections according to the correlating church calendar schedule. (Okay, it is really because I started reading in mid-January instead of on the first of the year). The book is laid out in a weekly (Sunday to Saturday), which makes it easy to pick up anytime.

Seeking to renew a Trinitarian approach to Scripture, Stott divides these daily reflections into three sections: on how God the Father revealed himself in the Old Testament, on the life of Christ in and through the Gospels and on the Holy Spirit in Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. As you read Stott, you’ll encounter a humble voice that’s friendly and courteous, but also joyful and optimistic.

The information on each page is easy to decipher, (without having to have a Ph.D in your back pocket), but it is also rich in Biblical truth and will cause the reader to exclaim “I thought I knew everything but I didn’t know that! Maybe I should share that with my senior pastor.” Using this book as my devotional for this year has rekindled my desire to be in the “Word” even more.

"It should enable us, whether we belong to a so-called liturgical church or not, to recapitulate every year the whole biblical story from the creation in Genesis to the consummation in Revelation 22," Stott writes about his book.

I’d highly recommend this book for those interested in a structured, biblically sound and excellent tool to be in the Word daily.

When God Lets You Down

With refreshing and courageous candor, Pastor Alex Gee doesn’t offer the easy answers as he searches for hope. With everything within him, he asks and attempts to answer, “Why do we still experience pain when we are "good" and follow God?”

The author openly shares his story of the loss of two daughters - and the near loss of a third - at birth. His writing is transparent, authentic, and life-giving (like few other texts I've ever read). He hurts deeply and most people who read his story will want to reach out and help ease his pain. Yet the author encourages the reader to walk through this journey of the hard questions asked by a grieving father. He freely admits he doesn’t "have all the answers," which is refreshing.

It is a Godly man’s approach to life’s grit. His disappointment when he doesn’t receive the answers he wants to his prayers is evident as he pushes God away at first. You will never read such emotional prose — yet there’s never a hint of whining or self-righteous entitlement in his words. Audacious and unjustified hope are the overwhelming themes woven into When God Lets You Down.

One of the most convicting quotes for me was “Some of us believe that Jesus lived and died just to endorse the spiritualization of the American Dream.” I’m still trying to process it. The last chapter is a letter of apology and release to his two girls, Victoria and Alexis. You will be moved to tears of both joy and sadness. I recommend it highly and will give it as a gift to others who are hurting and questioning God!

Sex God

Sex. God. What?

Be honest here for a moment: when you think about sex or God, chances are you’re not thinking about them at the same time, let alone relating to one another.

As created human beings, we know the two subjects are interconnected; we just don't have the right words to communicate how they’re related. Enter Rob Bell, author of Velvet Elvis, who says, “To make sense of the one, we have to explore the other.” Seems simple enough to agree with and understand but it’s not. It’s something deeper about how we were made to relate to each other, which inevitably leads to our Creator.

With chapter titles such as "God Wears Lipstick," "Leather, Whips, and Fruit," and "Whoopee Forever," Bell’s conversational style will appeal to young and old, single, dating, married or celibate. He shares common sense painted with a different paintbrush. His chapter “Worth Dying For” was one of my favorites. With the Spirit moving, it softened my hardened heart and attitude. I’ll share this chapter’s information with the two women in my life, (my wife and daughter).

Also “Under the Chuppah” was a close second as he shared his knowledge of the Jewish wedding traditions and how marriage today is not as sacredly observed. He did catch me off-guard several times, but his dissertation on God and our environment surprised me the most. It wasn’t out of place, but I felt it was too long and he was definitely on his soapbox. As always, his endnotes are full and flowing over with tidbits to enhance the learning experience.

What do sex and God really have to do with each other? That is what this book is about.

Pick up a copy here for 20% off.

posted by Dale Lewis

Beatitude

In his newest book, the author’s personal stories are blended with online conversations, short interviews and Scripture in this eclectic perspective on the Beatitudes. Turner is not afraid to expose his own shortcomings as well as the lessons he’s learning from the God of grace. The Beatitudes have become more than just another portion of Scripture memorized and recited as a part of his faith walk. Turner is candidly transparent and conversationally straight forward about the challenges of living up to the standard set in Matthew 5 with the Beatitudes. He reflects on his days growing up within a legalistic church, sharing how that experience slowed the progress of his faith journey.

The chapter on love was, by far, one of the best I have read on the subject. It is relevant and full of practical application from the Beatitudes. Written as a reflection of his heart and life, it is not a formula-based manual. In his last chapter, he sums up the reason he desires relearning Jesus: “Why do I pursue this? Because I long for my faith experience to leave me feeling what I felt when I saw that one-dollar bill suddenly become a twenty: amazed by the magic, left in disbelief when Jesus uses me, and embarrassed every time I miss an opportunity.”

In the past few months, I’ve read with great earnest contemporary authors like Steven James, Jarrett Stevens, and Craig Groeschel. Like the others, Matthew Paul Turner is certainly one of Christianity’s refreshing voices. I will continue to read and reflect on his musings while looking for the magic.

Pick up a copy here for 20% off.

Review by Dale Lewis, of Hope EFC in Oakdale, MN

The Deity Formerly Known as God

Recapturing the spirit of J. B. Phillip's classic, Your God Is Too Small, and writing to his postmodern generation, Jarrett Stevens carefully sorts through twelve different views of God - —six destructive views (i.e. talent show host or a sweet old man) and six constructive views, (i.e. green-thumbed gardener or a equal opportunity employer).

He writes that there is a desperate need to realign our images of God with the truth found in the Bible. The Deity Formerly Known as God helps readers wade through both the destructive images created from our life experiences and the constructive images shown in Scripture.

Stevens, like many Christ-followers, desires to truly know and experience the living God. Warped and "“out-in-left field" images of the Almighty formed over the years have clouded and confused our vision. Today, man is overwhelmed with assumptions and misconceptions about God. Simply stated by C.S. Lewis, "“I don'’t want my idea of God. I want God!"

One of Stevens'’ most poignant comments states, "“We have found ways of making almost everything around us somehow about us. So it should come as no surprise that we would even find a way to customize God."” This convicted and moved me to seek forgiveness!

Even though the author's heart is for the emergent culture and mindset, I was also challenged by his words. Challenged enough, as a "“Boomer"”, to begin exploring the Word in greater depth, making sure my “images of God were found in the Bible.

Seeking the images straight from Jesus' teachings, Stevens invites the reader into a new experience with the true and living God. DonÂ’t hesitate to pick up a copy for yourself and a Christmas gift!

This review was submitted by Dale Lewis who works at the EFCA & attends Hope Church in Oakdale, MN.

I Surrender All

When contemporary Christian artist, Clay Crosse, married Renee, (his high school sweetheart), in 1990, he wore a white tuxedo and she a white gown. This symbolize they had remained virgins until marriage. "We saw this as a way of glorifying God in our wedding ceremony and telling other young couples it is possible to wait for sex until marriage. Unfortunately, eight years would pass before I would begin to do the work to make this desire a reality." Even though he and Renee were virgins when they were wed, Clay hadn't stayed pure. Too many other images had polluted his mind.

In the worship centers of our churches, as well as the hallways of our homes, pornography addicts hide behind fragile masks of shameful silence. The enemy has run rampant far too long when it comes to wrecking lives through pornography. The God of the second chance is willing and able to restore all that has been stolen from a marriage torn apart by this evil.

Difficult words fill the chapters of “I Surrender All.” There is a heaviness to their story. Together, Clay and Renee write about his struggles with pornography and lust, as well as her desire to forgive and trust him. Within the narrative, there is overwhelming compassion and a sense of urgency about this sin.

When it comes to biblical standards, purity is not overrated. It is required by a holy God. Certain everyday practices assumed culturally “neutral,” i.e. using coarse language, laughing at crude jokes and viewing movies regardless of sexually explicit content began the downward spiral for Clay and Renee. There were several times we were convicted to make a mental inventory of our TV and movie viewing habits and be intentional about making changes. This is not a one-time makeover . . . it is a daily battle!

Practical tips for avoiding temptation and dealing with the variety of emotions experienced during a time of trial and healing permeate this team effort. Redeeming hope resonates throughout the pages. The transparent, candor by the Crosses' is what the body of Christ needs to hear today!

Pick up a copy here for 20% off.


--posted by Dale Lewis

Sailing Between the Stars

There is no such thing as a bad question and not every question has to have a well-defined answer. "Everywhere you look in Christianity, you see mysteries piled upon mysteries," writes the author in Sailing Between the Stars: Musings on the Mysteries of Faith. His premise is we don’t need to be so quick in securing an answer for every question asked. Our knowledge is finite . . . why do we pretend we know everything about anything when it comes to spirituality?

Through his captivating, conversational style, poignant stories and poetry, his challenge for the traveling pilgrim is to soak in the mysteries of faith. For some of us, that way of thinking is not in our comfort zone. Yet it’s important to be reminded, we will not lose our salvation by asking questions that may not have a 3-point dissertation as an answer.

Simply put, he has a way with words . . . drawing the reader into a more intimate glimpse of “what it really means to walk this paradoxical, painful, curious journey of believing in God’s Story.” His new favorite word is “agatholkakological” which means consisting of both good and evil . . . human beings being human. That’s you and me!

His musings include these odd but intriguing titles within the twenty chapters: “joy on the front of my pants,” “chewing on God,” and “thoughts on dung and grace.”

He challenges Christ-followers to become more comfortable with a faith full of truth and mystery. We serve a God who’s illogical, unreasonable and not stuck in our limited sandbox of understanding . . . but who is also incredibly and unmistakably true!

The bottom line of Sailing Between the Stars is that by definition God is bigger than our definitions. That's attractive, intriguing and a little bit unsettling to the all of us.

I read an advanced reading copy from uncorrected proofs but it didn’t matter in the least. His collection of random and not-so random musings is easy to read. I look forward to the day I can meet him face to face and thank him for sharing his heart.


Pick up the book here for 20% off.

The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do

Being a natural cynic and curious reviewer, one of my first thoughts prior to opening the book was one of disbelief . . . in that the author only found ten dumb things Christians do. I am far from perfect but only 10? I thought they would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. All I know is there are people who claim the name of Christ yet make Him powerless as they choose to continue being hypocritical, turning seekers away from the church.

Not one of us would deliberately sling mud on the Bride of Christ, live below the level of our beliefs or accept the unacceptable and yet these "careless, devoid- of-any-thought"” actions become weapons of destruction. Although these dumb things are often unintentional, they are also all avoidable according to the author! In a refreshingly candid way, Atteberry takes an inside look at why believers' efforts to serve God are woefully ineffective when we engage in these foolish things. He is passionate, poignant and practical as he offers action steps to correct stupid ideas and attitudes.

From his many years as a senior pastor, he doesn'’t hesitate to deliver some stinging rebukes about the current crisis in today's churches. He writes smart in that he doesn't condemn but gently points the reader in the right direction to make a positive difference, both internally and in their community. For that reason, I a’m now officially an Atteberry fan.

This honest call to change is impossible to ignore. It is the perfect blending of exhortation and encouragement wrapped up in Christ-like love and humor. IÂ’m hoping to see a study/workbook written for “The 10 Dumbest Things” in the near future to be used in a small group setting.

Pick up this book here for 20% off.


--posted by Dale Lewis

Confessions of a Caffeinated Christian

In this often humorous collection, reminiscent of his earlier books, “Real Christians Don't Dance” and “True Believers Don’t Ask Why?” prolific author John Fischer relates his sometimes less-than-perfect attempts to follow Jesus and live an authentic life of faith in his own “vintage, free-flowing, going off on a few tangents here and there,” style of communicating.

He shares real life examples from his childhood, marriage as well as one from an older married couple who were his close friends. Almost every chapter, in some way, is tied to Fischer's favorite brew . . . coffee!

Fischer's transparent discomfort with his feelings at the local Koffee Klatch is refreshing and leads him to dig deeper, asking hard questions. Sometimes there is a point to his musings, sometimes it is a little difficult to discern what he wants the reader to take away. In spite of strong material, there is a rambling aspect to “Confessions” that makes it easier to pick up and read in short bursts, rather than as one long narrative.

The bottom line of “Confessions” is simply an exhortation: Christ-followers who are just “observers” of life need to put the kick back into their coffee becoming more engaged
with their world, risking being more uncomfortable and vulnerable! It’s time to lose the ultra-conservative mindset of childhood . . . and get messy by being involved.

If you want to be challenged and given a little push back in your faith-walk, pick this up . . . read it and then pass it on to another Christ-follower.

Pick this title up here for 20% off!


--posted by Dale Lewis

The Unexpected Journey

For many years, my dad (a Salvation Army officer), used to preach God was still in the business of changing people. Back then as a young child I believe Dad, and I still do today. This newest offering from Thom Rainer affirmed this belief once again. The Unexpected Journey” is a captivating chronicle of how a dozen people were eternally changed!

Thom Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, personally interviewed Christ-followers who once wandered the paths of major religions and lesser known forms of spirituality. The interviewees share personal struggles, as well as the doors God opened to bring them from other belief systems to Christianity. It is written in a very conversational style. With most of the chapters, I wanted more information . . morere intimate details of their faith journey.

Mormonism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Atheism are among the twelve faiths” highlighted. Other belief systems include Jehovah's Witness, Wicca, Agnosticism, Buddhism, Islam, Unitarianism, New Age, and
Satanism. Most of these chapters are guaranteed to open your
tunnel-vision” eyes to God'’s powerful ways of drawing unbelievers into the body of believers. The book encourages readers to stay involved in the lives of others while sharing the love of Christ through both words and actions.

Pull-quotes explaining their former non-Christian belief systems are included in each chapter. These help clear up any assumptions and hearsay the reader may have unknowingly accepted as fact.

Study questions, (at the end of the book), enable small groups to gain useful insight into evangelism today and the variety of spiritual journeys people travel.

Don'’t delay in picking up a copy today and then by all means, pass it on!

This review was submitted by Dale Lewis who works at the EFCA & attends Hope Church in Oakdale, MN.

I Am Not But I Know I AM

Without a doubt, Louie is a superb communicator. His books are easy to read & this one makes its point clearly. It is advantageous to take the time to reread many of the chapters &/or sections in order to fully understand. Louie's transparency & authenticity draw the reader into his simple, yet profound, reflections. Be sure to invite the Holy Spirit to be involved in your reading time with this title!

The author is inspired by both the non-Kodak, as well as the "WOW," moments of daily life. I Am Not But I Know I AM presents the rich, meaningful lifestyle of being small.

Here's a basic summary of what he's trying to say:
- Everything in this universe is all about God...He is the I AM in an eternal story of life-changing significance.
- Our story is quite brief (in the grand scheme of things) & if we want our lives to count, we should lose ourselves within His story. In other words, stop hogging the spotlight!

Chapter 5, "BEcame" was terrific & easy to devour. The "One-Word Bible Study Method," was also outstanding & definitely worth the time to reread. It's a fresh complement to reading a whole passage of Scripture & hoping for some inspiration.

You will definitely be "put in your place" as you read & listen for the Almighty's still & gentle voice...which is a good place to be! We must continue to die to our independent selves with their pride. As Christ followers, we must think small but not detached! We must think beyond a God who can do things in & though us is a life other than God's life - because it is HIS story!

Pick this book up here for 20% off!

This review was submitted by Dale Lewis who works at the EFCA & attends Hope Church in Oakdale, MN.

Adventures in Missing The Point

I don’t know about you but I’m not too pleased when somebody corrects me or tells me I’m wrong . . . especially when it’s not obvious to me. You must distance yourself from that mindset if you’re going to dive into “Adventures in Missing The Point: How The Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel.”
According to Tony Campolo and Brian McLaren, Christ–followers have missed the point of the Gospel they are called to share. Believers have mistaken the Bible for just an answer book, seen salvation as celestial fire insurance and equated worship with warm fuzzy feelings. The authors believe the emerging postmodern culture has now provided the church an opportunity to revisit these topics and discover what the Gospel really entails.
Topics covered are related to religious philosophy, society and personal spirituality. They include: missing the point of salvation, the Bible and worship and missing the point on postmodernism, women in church leadership, etc. Some of the chapters are more mundane while others scream controversial. In each chapter, one of them presents his perspective and the other then briefly agrees or disagrees in an afterthought. I find it so easy to rely on what I’ve been told to believe as a child or what is widely accepted by the Christian community. The challenge to take an honest look at our beliefs and truly question their origin is not an easy one to make. You must ask yourself, is what you believe biblical or just cultural or a mixture of both? Is it possible to be critical and constructive at the same time?

Some believers may think the authors have “missed the point” by their blatant refusal to bow down at the altar of sacred cow doctrines openly questioning their validity. The authors intention is to stir up some unspoken thoughts in order for them to become a part of a lively discussion rather than provide a theological dissertation. Reading this book was definitely worthwhile! Although I don’t agree with everything they say or how they said it, it certainly provoked me to think a little more about what I say I believe and why I believe — a spiritual necessity for the discerning Christ-follower!

This book is 20% off here.

This review was submitted by Dale Lewis who works at the EFCA & attends Hope Church in Oakdale, MN.

Category: Emergent

I Still Believe

Have you ever wondered what makes the faith we love so hard for others to accept? Why can’t they just receive it like we did? There are many in this world who find all or parts of Christianity hard to swallow. Kurt Bruner’s newest book, “I Still Believe,” gives the reader a chance to listen to unbelievers—to see Christianity’s through the eyes of those who reject its message.
I like Bruner’s approach because he’s not afraid to tackle the questions he cannot completely answer because he is finite, like the rest of us! It is not “knee-deep” in theology, nor does it contain pages of “over-your-head” hermeneutics . . . these are simply conversations with a diverse group of unbelievers— from the disillusioned to the seeker, from the heckler to the rebel.
The author is not on the defensive, the “us vs. them” mindset, as he listens (like Jesus would), to all of their stories — taking their struggles seriously and recording them accurately. His premise is that a solid faith should not always accept easy answers.
In the end, in spite of their best arguments, Christ-followers should be able to more confidently declare, "I Still Believe!" His use of Bumper Sticker slogans like “I’ve got nothing against God. It’s His fan club I can’t stand” help set up his easy-to-read chapters. The “Hard To Swallow” summary statements are to the point and easy to remember. Here are a few examples: “Christianity is mindless dogma, Christians seem too certain, and God calls fun evil.”
I will continue to read Kurt because of the transparent honesty in his writing as well as how he deals with Christianity’s difficult issues.

This review was submitted by Dale Lewis who works at the EFCA & attends Hope Church in Oakdale, MN.