Sent by Hilary Alan

               We've all probably heard the stories of missionaries who abandoned everything to follow Christ in a foreign land, of those who were willing to give up the comforts of convenience for the sake of proclaiming Christ in unknown communities. Hilary Alan's story, told in her recent book titled Sent, is very similar, but with a more modern and in-depth look not just at the journey she took to serve overseas in Southeast Asia, but at the process involved in embarking upon such a task. And in telling her story, she reveals many issues that may confront all of us as we attempt to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, wherever he may send us.
                The Alan family (Hilary, her husband Curt and their two children) were living a successful, upper middle class, suburban life in North Carolina when God began to stir their hearts for something more than what they were experiencing. Through a series of events that occurred in conjunction with the most devastating tsunami in history in Southeast Asia, the family believed that God was sending them to an unknown land in that region of the world to assist with rebuilding the community and to reach out to those who were not familiar with the good news of Jesus Christ.
                Throughout the book, the author effectively conveys the emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges that faced their family in obeying God to leave their home, jobs, family and friends to go to a place that was a Muslim region, governed by Sharia law, where white westerners, particularly women were not looked upon favorably. She includes the stories of selling everything, of the reactions of their friends and family and the struggles of living without modern conveniences like washers, dryers and other items that we might take for granted that we own. From daily sweeping her dirt floors, to wearing head coverings when entering public places, there is a variety of subjects addressed in Sent.
                 Particularly interesting were the accounts of their son and daughter, both of whom were school age when their family decided to move. The pressures the children faced were strong, but she paints a beautiful picture of the grace of God that helped them in the transition also. She also shares stories of some of the people she became close to and the frustrations of living in a culture that doesn't always do things the way we might think they should, sometimes with devastating consequences for those involved. She ends the book by showing how they journeyed back to the United States, but returned much different than when they originally left.
                 I  received this book for free from "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review.  I found the  book to be a little long, but some of you may find all of the detail to be quite revealing as you delve into the story. You may read an excerpt at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/pdf/SneakPeek_Sent.pdf

Seven Men by Eric Metaxas

                I like biographies, particularly those about people whom I know from their achievements. But, like many, my time does not always permit me the freedom to read every biography. So when I encountered the book "Seven Men:And the Secret of Their Greatness" by author Eric Metaxas, I was very glad to learn the contents of the pages, and was even more glad after I finished reading it. The author has done a spectacular job of writing the shortened biographies of seven great men in history, and what made them worthy of remembering to all of us.
                Eric Metaxas is a writer who used to work under Charles Colson at Prison Fellowship ministries and who currently still works with the "Breakpoint" radio program that Colson led for years. So, it was no surprise to find Charles Colson on the list of the seven great men whose lives the author chose to review. He has authored two previous full length biographies, one about William Wilberforce and the other about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, both whose capsulized stories are included in his newest contribution. But, those that I have described already are just three of the figures you'll be happy to read about in this fascinating book. The other heroes he mentions are equally worth paying attention to as you study.
                Whether it is heart breaking abuse Jackie Robinson endured as the first African American baseball player, or the courage of William Wilberforce to abolish slavery from his own country, the stories will lead on a journey through the lives of those whose influence can be felt still, even many years after their death. I was particularly moved to tears when I read the story of Eric Liddell, who is best known for his Olympic feats and for his resistance to run on a Sunday (featured in the film 'Chariots of Fire'). But, the story of the rest of his life after the Olympics, including the sacrifices he made as a Christian missionary to China, is what sets him apart form others in history. I found his example truly Christ-like and an inspiration to us all.
                 You may not agree with all of those whom the author has chosen to write about in this book. But, I do believe you'll have to agree after reading it that all of them achieved great things, often against terrible odds and opposition. They are all worthy of our respect and we can learn much from the legacy that they leave behind for all of us to follow. This book was given to me complimentary as a part of the book review program for bloggers at www.booksneeze.com. I think you will agree after reviewing it that it was both an educational and inspiring book. 

Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

                  

                  Perhaps you, like many others, have met your fair share of Christians who are incredibly educated when it comes to the truth of the scriptures, but can be rather irritating in how they present that knowledge to others. But, on the opposite end of the spectrum, you may also have encountered those who are kind and gentle believers, but who have the most non-traditional, not to mention non-scriptural, viewpoints about God and the Bible as a person could ever imagine existing. And, thus, we discover that we are not alone in recognizing these contradictions, when we delve into the contents of author Joshua Harris' book Humble Orthodoxy.
                   Joshua Harris is the Pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is a seasoned speaker, author and church leader. But, in serving God for many years, he has noticed the same behavior patterns in believers that I pointed out in the opening paragraph. And his attention to this dilemma and the encouragement of other Godly leaders led him to the development of the book, Humble Orthodoxy, which addresses both humility and orthodoxy in belief.
                   The book is relatively small and simple to read. Someone could easily finish it in a little over an hour. The author stresses throughout the work that there is a need not just for one or the other of the choice between humility and orthodoxy, but that it is possible to exhibit both traits as Christians, and that it is actually the desire of the Lord that we would have both operating consistently in our lives. He goes on to address how we can and should cultivate both aspects of living and even gives examples of those he has observed who have been good and bad examples in each area.
                   Undoubtedly, the subject matter in this work is needed for all believers. However, I did find the book to be a little bit repetitious in it's emphasis, even for it's short length. Each of the two topics could easily have been a book of their own. Yet, when combined together, it appeared to this reader that the point of the book was driven home early in the work, and the remainder of the book continued to pound the same nail that was solidly fastened in place already. But, that may also have been very intentional, to reinforce the concepts already presented so that the subject could be fully understood.
                   Is the material in the book needed? Absolutely. Should you read it? Certainly. I received this book for free from "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review.  You may read an excerpt at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2013/01/08/sneak-peek-humble-orthodoxy-by-joshua-harris/.

Accidental Pharisees by Larry Osborne

           For those who have been believers in Jesus Christ and have been a part of a structured church for any length of time, it can be very easy to quickly assess how spirituality is measured and who's at the top of the 'pecking order', whether written rules for the system exist or even if they don't. One of the dangers in entering any such church system is that we can accidentally impose our definition of what it means to be 'spirtual' on everyone else around us, and thereby become a modern day Pharisee. And this is only a small part of what author Larry Osborne addresses in his book, Accidental Pharisees.
           Larry Osborne is the Pastor of North Coast Church in San Diego, California. He is a seasoned Pastor, author and church leader. And, as he openly confesses throughout the book, he has been guilty at times of being an accidental Pharisee. However, the book offers hope for those who are caught in the same traps he experienced, and it gives vital illustrations of the behavior so prevalent in many Christians that lend to fostering this faith debilitating condition.
           When you first hear the title and recognize the subject matter, you might be tempted to think "good, a lot of people need to hear this". However, after reading through only a few pages, you will be more inclined to muse "wow, I really need to hear this". Because,  the author goes beyond the mere modern conceptions of a Pharisee's behavior and examines the attitudes so prevalent in all of us that can threaten our relationship with God and others when not properly kept in check.
           The book has 7 different sections, each addressing one of the areas where we can unintentionally move toward Pharisee like behavior. Addressing issues such as pride, exclusivity, legalism and idolizing the past, Pastor Larry works at exploring not only the ways can exhibit these tendencies, but also the scriptural proof texts used to support them, in addition to the verses typically avoided by those who practice these positions.
           I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Joseph of Arimathea, the disciple nobody wants to be. It explores our definitions of what we think is acceptable, verses what God thinks is acceptable. And I have to admit that although I was looking forward to reading this book, I had to go 'ouch' at several parts of it...which can making reading somewhat uncomfortable. Nonetheless, I was able to finish the book rather quickly and I found it to be an important addition to my 'glad I read that' list.
              This book was given to me complimentary as a part of the book review program for bloggers at www.booksneeze.com . I debated whether or not to give it 5 stars or just 4. I mean, after all, I was convicted at times and I thought books were supposed to be just for pleasure, not for study, personal application (did I mention the discussion questions at the end of each chapter?) and growth. Isn't that just for everybody else? No, I decided to give the book a 5 star rating, because if you're anything ike the rest of us, you may discover by reading it that there are areas you too can adjust to become more like Jesus and less like an accidental Pharisee.

God's Not Dead

               

                  Rice Broocks is no stranger to the controversial questions that arise from skeptics when the Christian faith is discussed in the various parts of the globe where he has ministered. As a seasoned Pastor, church planter, author and leader, he has been challenged to address a variety of "hot button topics" which continually arise from those who have unanswered inquiries about God, creation, faith and the proof surrounding these bedrocks of Christian doctrine. And, one of the ways he has developed that directly confronts these issues for those who are curious is his newest book, entitled "God's Not Dead - Evidence For God In An Age Of Uncertainty".
                  While the book can be considered primarily a tool to answer the questions of atheists, agnostics and skeptics, it is also designed in a way that can equip the saints to do the works of the ministry. One of those works can surely be considered going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every creature. Undoubtedly, many of the topics he discusses in this manual will be those that believers everyewhere will confront when attempting to share a Christ-centered faith with those who believe otherwise.
                  The book is divided into ten chapters, each somewhat building upon the topic previously discussed in the prior chapter. Ranging from subjects such as "Good and Evil are no Illusions" to "Lie has Meaning and Purpose", there is a wide array of topics that are covered, which leads to a fuller understanding of the foundational beliefs of Christian faith. He attempts to address the most commonly heard issues of opposition and succeeds in his task.
                  The book and the topics discussed are vital to equip any believer to share their faith and to challenge non-Christians to examine more carefully the answers they assume they will receive when asking questions that are designed to thwart the faith of some. However, this book may not be easy for everyone to read. I, for one, am not very scientific in my natural inclination or understanding, so I found the chapters which addressed evolution based arguments and scientific discoveries to be less easy to finish. Yet, I am more familiar and comfortable with the truths surrounding the scriptures themselves, along with Jesus death, burial and resurrection, and this made those chapters simpler to digest and to grow from their material.
                 This book was given to me complimentary as a part of the book review program for bloggers at www.booksneeze.com . If you are one who likes to study the subject known as 'apologetics' or if you are one who feels as though you have no answers when you find yourself in dialogue with an atheist or agnostic, than this may be a good choice for you to read. But, even if you don't fall into those categories, any believer can learn, grow more and strengthen their faith by reading this book, to face the onslaught of attacks that often confront Christians who endeavor to fulfill the great commission and to make disciples of all nations.  

Heaven's Lessons by Steve Sjogren

        

         There are quite a few stories that you will often hear about those who had died and came back again. But, often the focus of the story is what the person saw, heard and experienced during their time out of their body. Enter Steve Sjogren. Steve has been a Pastor, author and community leader for decades. Several years ago, Steve died on an operating table and came back again. And in his book, Heaven's Lessons, the emphasis is not as much on the experience he had, but on the lessons he learned from his encounter with death, eternity and who is on the other side.
         Heaven's Lessons tells the story of ten lessons that Steve learned after having his encounter with death. Ranging from God is big, to face your fear, each one emphasizes important truths that we may have been taught, but can become different in the light of eternity. They each give  us a fresh new look at principles that are important but often are neglected or not emphasized in our culture. But, the author also weaves bits and pieces of his own personal experience, both before and after his brush with death, into the pages of each chapter.
         The most particularly fascinating chapter to me was chapter eight, entitled. Get Over It. One of the things Steve Sjogren learned came after a visit to a therapist who helped him sort through the emotional issues he was encountering. He had a bad break with the church he had Pastored and had to resign later after he had already been through a great amount of trauma. But then his psychologist told him "Even though you had absolutely nothing to do with the accident...practically everyone in your organization is very angry with you because you have up-ended their lives." (page 104). This was something he had never considered and it helped him in the process of overcoming all that he had been through up until that point.
         While I expected to hear a little more about his after death experience based on the title of the book, I was nevertheless pleased at the contents of this fine work. This book was given to me complimentary as a part of the book review program for bloggers at www.booksneeze.com . I am glad that I read it. And I hope that you and I can learn from the lessons contained in it's pages that the spiritual world is more real than the natural world and we should live each day in the light of that reality, knowing that one day all of us will face the other side of the grave to behold our creator, in all of His glory.

Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley

               

                
                 There was a period of time 10-15 years ago, when the 'leadership' movement was dominating the Christian world. Books, CDs and seminars abounded in teaching leadership principles to individuals in every area possible. Sometimes, the things that were lacking amidst all of the hype were proven leaders who had lived some of the principles they were espousing, and not merely parroting others who had gone before them. But, then, we  come to one of Andy Stanley's latest books, Next Generation Leader.
                 Andy Stanley, himself, is a proven leader. The Pastor of Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia not only leads thousands of people weekly, but through his ministry other churches are springing up all over the country and multitudes of Pastors across the United States look to him as a teacher, mentor and spiritual father. The book, Next Gneration Leader, declares the truths that have helped him to lead and that he believes will help both those who are leading now and those who will be the leaders of the future.
                The book is divided into five sections, each beginning with the letter "C", standing for Competenece, Courage, Clarity, Coaching, and Character. The chapters then develop each of those topics and expand the ideas presented for the subject being exmined. No chapter is so lengthy that you couldn't read it in just a few minutes time. But, each chapter is packed with "food for thought" that will keep you chewing on the rich truths presented.
                 One of the things I appreciated most about the book was the personal illustrations the author uses to drive home his points. Rather than the stories coming off as the boastings of a
"leadership guru" declaring how to be perfect, Andy Stanley is very transparent and vulnerable as he relates not the only the times when he knew what to do, but the times when he had to learn by not knowing what to do and having to rely on others on his team, who were talented and gifted leaders also. I particularly found the story of the developement of their "syamese sanctuaries" a fascinating lessson in courage, because leadership requires the courage to take risks and do things that can potentially fail. In that case, he took a risk that proved to be a great decision. But you'll have to read that section to find out more about it.
                 It was great to read a book on leadership that wasn't full of the lists of all of the things you feel like you'll never be able to accomplish, nor the motivational speeches of an athletic instructor who doesn't know if you have what it takes to stay in the game. Next Generation Leader was inspiring, encouraging and educational.  I received this book for free from "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review. I am very glad that I had the privilege of reading it. You may read an excerpt at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/pdf/SneakPeekNextGenerationLeader.pdf