Reviewing Mondays With My Old Pastor

I've put this review off for far too long. First off, I loved the book. The delay in writing the review has hung on two questions. Did this really happen? Does it matter?

In Monday's With My Old Pastor, Jose Luis Navajo tells, from a ministry perspective, a wonderful, compelling, encouraging and helpful tale of a the mentoring relationship between an aged pastor, in the latter days of his life, and a former member of his congregation who is now a pastor himself. The wisdom and advice that the “old” pastor gives is some I will be turning back to from time to time. One principle, by way of example, passed on is to never make changes in the midst of a storm. This advice is both practical and pertinent. The point is to wait until the storm passes, and then evaluate whether or not it is the right time to seek a new ministry.

Let's get back to the two questions. The principles passed along in this book sound really good. Compared to the two characters in the book, I'm new to ministry. I cannot say whether or not they hold up. I haven't been at this long enough to experience them. I need them to be more than just words that sound good. If this relationship in the book truly happened, if the old pastor actually experienced the truth of these principles and is really passing them on to me through his relationship with this younger pastor, then they hold so much more weight.

If the principles are as sound as I suspect they are, then everyone sensing a call to pastoral ministry should read this book for it's practical overview of what it means to shepherd a flock.  

Considering Empty Promises

I've been trying to think of the most grievous empty promise that has ever been made to me.

Surely I've spent a great deal of money on things that I thought would bring me happiness, or improve my life, or cause the ladies to swoon, or...

I have a lot of junk in my house because of these empty promises. I should say that the junk that I thought would bring the ladies has been thrown out by my wife. The rest, however, is still kicking around somewhere and is the primary reason I can't park in my garage.

Advertisements are such empty promises.

And they get me almost every time.

I wish that was the sum total of the lies I've bought into, but amazingly there are more.

Pete Wilson, in his book "Empty Promises: the truth about you, your desires, and the lies you're believing" holds out writes this on page 16: "The question we're dealing with in this book  is not 'Do you have idols?' We're already determined that the heart is an idol factory. The real question for any of us is this: Which idol is God's biggest rival in your life?"

From there he launches into an exploration of seven idols that we grant license to compete with God.  The book covers things such as: approval, power, beauty, and money. Some might argue that these are not true idols. To that, the author offers one of the best, in my opinion, definitions of an idol: "idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give."

With that definition, perhaps the list, and the book, could have been longer.

Pete Wilson's style is easy to read. He's thought provoking and engaging. Empty promises was surprisingly practical. In fact, as I read i kept picturing the material being a teaching series--no doubt it was before it was a book.

The last thing I want to do with this review is to leave you with an empty promise. The book is worth reading. It might change your perspective on life, but it might not. I have a hard time believing that you can't think of at least one person who would benefit from it: and that person will most likely be you.

* * *
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Love Does And I Will Too...someday

My wife's husband makes "to do" lists.

That's good enough isn't it?

No, that isn't love?

Really? Are you sure? They're made quite lovingly with really good intentions.

Of course there's saying you'll get around to something and then there's doing something. Which comes across as love? It's obviously the latter. And there is the book "Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World" by Bob Goff.

Like a lot of people I was introduced by Bob Goff while reading a little book by Donald Miller. When I saw I could get a copy of Bob's book for free I didn't think twice. I just did.*  And I'm oh so glad that I did.

It's been quite a while since I've read a book so fast. It's far from being a complicated read. Don't expect heavy theological arguments. It's a 2012 prose form of a 20 year old DC Talk song. There are numerous great stories. They kept me hooked. Stores are full of long biographies about people who have done half the crazy stuff this guy has.

However, you can read this book for its entertaining stories or you can accept the challenge that lies within and ask yourself: Am I really loving God and others by the way that I live, or is there something needing to be changed?

When that question entered into my reading of the book, chapter 29 became a difficult read. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, and perhaps it will be a different chapter for each reader, but how I teach youth as a youth pastor and my kids as their father will be different from here on out. It has to change.

Go buy it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If you're on the fence know that the few dollars you spend will help kids in Uganda. Helping kids is reason enough to part with the cash. Actually for that reason, I feel kinda guilty about accepting a free copy. I guess I'll have to go buy one for myself.


*see what I did there? I was learning from the book before even reading the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Am I a Follower?

In college, 13 years ago, I had to read a book by Leonard Sweet.

I didn't like it.

Actually, my classmates and I mocked it. I think the only one in the class who like it was the professor. Many of us vowed to never read another book by Sweet.

You could say that I lacked a Sweet tooth.*

Recently, I was at a pastor's conference where I would be seeing some old classmates. I had just picked up my review copy of “I Am A Follower: the way, truth, and live of following Jesus” by Leonard Sweet. I had to not only confess that I broke my vow, but that I was really enjoying it.

I think what I enjoyed most was the different take on leadership it provided. As a pastor the second statement of my job description begins, “To provide leadership...” It is my job to lead. There are scores of books out there to help me in my role as leader, but Sweet comes along and draws the attention back to what it means to be called by Jesus. The reader is reminded that the apostles were all called not be be great and might leaders, but to follow Jesus. Then on page 21 Sweet reminds us that: “The Jesus paradox is that only Christians lead by following.”

I will best fulfill my role as leader by following Jesus.

There is an incredible sense of freedom in that: in remembering that it is Jesus' ministry, and these are Jesus' people.

So like Paul I need to be saying “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Or perhaps better yet, “Let's all follow Christ together.”

The rest of the book is about what it means, and how to, follow Jesus. It's about a setting right of our perspective of what it means to be the church.

I've already recommended it to others, and will continue to do so. I think the church needs to understand that we are to follow Jesus and Jesus alone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

* If there is a Leonard Sweet fan club I highly encourage them to be known as Sweet tooths if they are not already. That would be a killer name for fans of his writing.  

Reviewing "Why Men Hate Going to Church"

Today I finished reading David Murrow's book "Why Men Hate Going to Church." I was reading the revised edition. I've never read the original. I'm not sure how they compare. I'd be curious about the difference, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to read it.

I really wanted to like this book. When I picked it up, I had high expectations. Our church struggles to get guys involved. I was eager to learn about changing that.

I almost didn't finish it. In fact, had I not agreed to read it in its entity I probably would have dropped out in the middle. It's a bit like reading the Bible cover to cover. It all starts strong, but then around Numbers things go off the rails and the repetition just about kills it. Here's what I mean: he bashes churches that repeat the same praise chorus until everyone is in what he calls "a worship coma" but does practically the same thing as he repeats again and again all the things that churches do to repel men. I get it. churches turn men off. And not only is he nauseatingly repetitive, at times he comes across homophobic. I'm sure he doesn't mean to, but he's got to let up on how "gay" some church practices come across.

If you'd like to read the book here's my recommendation: read the first two chapters to get his point, understand where he is coming from, and to begin to wrestle with the need. Then skip to chapter 16. All the qualities, the redeeming characteristics, and the value of the book begin in chapter 16. Then you'll be able to read something helpful. There is some good stuff in there, but I wonder how many will have the patience to find it. I'm sure men won't.

I suppose the irony of all this is that the book itself is incredibly man unfriendly. All the things he says the church does wrong in regards to men are done in the book. The only way it could have been worse would be if each copy came with a crocheted book mark.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Reviewing the Grace of God

I'm sure most people reading this would be familiar with the words of the Hymn: "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound."

Is it?

Usually, grace only shows up when I've messed up. And then in that situation I'm hoping, or even pleading, for grace.

But is that Grace?

That is the question Andy Stanley opens up in his book, "The Grace of God." He begins where the world began, in the garden of Eden, and works through the Bible to the book of Acts pointing out what grace looks like.

He doesn't explain grace with a theological argument. He sets out some of his understandings of grace, but the book is about showing grace. So we read Bible story after Bible story and Andy Stanley offers commentary pointing out where grace was evident in the story.

It's a bit sad to me that in many of the stories where I was tempted to skip ahead because I've heard them countless times, my eyes were opened to see grace where I thought none was being shown. His point is that grace is offered by God in the beginning, and if we ask for it, beg for it, or deserve it, it is not grace. Our only response is to accept grace, to open our eyes to see it, to welcome it, and live differently in the way of grace.

That is the beauty of this book. After reading it I'm now looking to see grace: where God has shown me grace, and where I need to be offering it to others.

The book is a quick read. It's not long and not complicated. Another of his points is that grace isn't supposed to be complicated. I guess it's fitting that the book isn't either.

I was left struggling with who this book would be for. Certainly I, as a pastor and a longtime Christian, got something out of it. But I can't say that it changed my life. I do think he is wanting the church to wake up and be better known as a group that offers grace. I'm not sure enough was done in these pages to achieve that goal. Perhaps there is a followup book needed called: "The grace of God was given to you, now get off your but and go show some to others." I'm confident that says more about me than anything else.

I'm sure many will read this book and be encouraged, and some will read it and think he's missing the point. The author is aware of this and tries to address it in the conclusion. My hope is that, if people are struggling with grace they will continue to do so and not throw aside the thoughts presented here.

Andy Stanley offers some beautiful thoughts on an even more beautiful subject: grace. And all of this is to point us to God to one who offers grace. This is never supposed to be about us. It is all about God. And he is a God of grace.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Finding Our Way: a book review, not a cartography course

Ancient Christian practices are so hot right now.

That might not be true.

It might very well be true, I just have nothing to confirm or deny it. There seems to be a trend towards "rediscovering" the way church was done in the past as in ancient practices, but I have nothing to back that up but a hunch and what I've heard on the internet.

When I saw the title for Brian McLaren's book "Finding Our Way Again: the return of the ancient practices" I got really excited.

I picked it up expecting it to be filled with wonderful things I dreamed I would try: practices that would align my daily life in 2011 with the lives of saints of old.

It wasn't everything that I expected.

I was expecting to read about how I can more practically incorporate those ancient practices into my daily life. I was expecting a breakdown--more than that, a list--of practices, and a simple 1, 2, 3 step approach for beginning them.

McLaren didn't deliver. Well, to be fair, it wasn't his intention to deliver those things. This book stands as an introduction to a series of books. The subsequent volumes, written by other authors, will share more of what I thought I wanted. This introductory volume seems to exist to lay the framework for why us, the readers, should care about spiritual practices.

I say that I thought I wanted the expectation highlighted above. I came to realize as I read, that I was getting something better, and something more in line with what I needed.

McLaren highlights four reasons for writting this book (found on page 201 of my copy), and I hope I'm not giving anything away here: "First. spiritual practices help develop character, the kind of character we see in Saint Francis standing as a man of peace before the sultan. Second, they help us be awake and alive and more fully human, as this singer of songs, lover of birds, embracer of lepers, and carrier of joy so clearly was. Third, they help us experience God, or as we have said more recently, they help us join God so that we glow with Francis like holy embers radiant with the fire of God."

And there is a fourth:

harmony.

More specifically, McLaren is pointing readers to an understanding that despite many differences between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, there are similarities in both ancestry (Father Abraham) and spiritual practice (such as fixed hour prayer) among others.

His desire is that we, meaning the adherents of the three faiths, would give more consideration to these similarities, and less to the differences. While we might all have very different opinions of Jesus, we need to "pursue the ancient way in which we learn to practice peace, joy, self-mastery and justice: because the future of the world depends on people like you and me finding it and living it and inviting other to join us."

I understand that some people have strong opinions of Brian McLaren. This is the first book, of his that I've read. There were parts I didn't agree with, but there was much I did. And more than that, much of what I read challenged my thinking.

I got from this book, not what I expected, but instead what I needed. I have a greater understanding of how life today can connect with the ancient practices of old. I'd say that chapters 15 through 19 were worth every bit of time put into the book. While the whole book is well worth reading, I'd recommend it to other just for those five chapters alone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

On This Day A Book Review

Today I wrapped up reading On This Day in Christian History: 365 Amazing and Inspiring Stoiries About Saints, Martys, and Heros  by Robert J. Morgan.

It did not take me 365 days to read.

On This Day in Christian Histroy, was written as a daily devotional with a short, one page, entry for each day sharing a story from history that happened on that day in the past 2,000 years. It was not suprising then, to read about St. Patrick on March 17th.

While there are 365 stories, they do not introduce us to 365 people in history. As a result, you may read about an individual, let's take Martin Luther as an example, then a few days later read more about them. At times this gets a bit confusing as the story of an indivual's life is told in bits and pieces throughout the year. This format makes the book work far better as a devotional than a history book.  

I do not believe that Robert J. Morgan intend the book to be read in the brief manner in which I did. This becomes clear as you read on.

While I enjoyed the read, and would recommend it as an introduction to Church history for people who wish to know more, there were a few things I'd love to see different. First, as is the case with most history books, it can be dry. I don't believe this to be necessarily the author's fault, as I suspect it would be incredibly difficul to craft a one page summary of complex historical events in a creative and entertaining way. Therefore, I would not classify Robert J. Morgan as a dry author.This would be especially unfair as I've read nothing further by him.

A second suggested revision for the book would be an index of people. There is a topical index which might be helpful, and certainly fits with the devotional aspect of the book, but an index of people would could transform this devotional into quite the helpful resource.

The final suggestion would be to update some of the innacuracies. Twice in the book we read the phrase "modern day Czechoslovakia." Last I checked, Czechoslovakia doesn't exist.

Despite all these three things, On This Day in Christian History, is an educational, enlightening, devotional that will hopefully leave readers appreciating not only where we stand in Christian History, but also what others have gone throught to advance the gospel. As a devotional it leads others closer to God by showing him faithful in the most dire of circumstances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Been Readin'

I hope you've all had a great start to 2011.

I spent much of the past few weeks reading. I read a book reminding readers that Jesus loves them, half a book on church history which I'll post a review of once finished, many reviews of guitar gear, some magazines, and a book on evangelism.

To be honest, much of what I've read has been long forgotten.

However, two things have stood out that are worth mentioning.

First, go read "And Now a Word From Our Sponsor" over at The Church of no People. Matt Appling writes an appeal for the Church to get back to creating great art. I especially love the line near the end: "What we're doing isn't cutting it... We need to spend some of that money that we spend on buildings and shows for ourselves, and hire real artist to help us communicate with people we don't know how to communicate with."

As you may know, or have guessed, I'm not an artist. I suck at art. No reasonable person would ask me to create beautiful artistic expressions of the gospel story. Yet, we live in a world that consumes visuals: a world where people speak through art. We need someone to communicate love, hope, grace, peace, and Jesus in a visually compelling way.

So let's get on that already.

Secondly, I finished up a book on evangelism by Matthew Paul Turner called "The Coffee House Gospel." I love Turner's writing. I read his blog often, and I have one other book of his on my shelf. I'm not a "crazy let's stalk him online and ready every word every written by him" kind of guy, but I enjoy his writing none the less.

If you read this book hoping to find a defense for your personal belief that a Grande a day will save your soul, you will be disappointed. If you read it hoping to become the world's most famous evangelist, you should know that this is not a how to book.

It's more of a, "Hey, did you know that when you talked to your neighbour about your mutual displeasure of waking up to a foot of snow needing to be shoveled off the driveway, you were creating future opportunities to share with them the hope you have of being saved from eternal damnation because you were building a relationship with them and are not hoping to one day say: 'Walking on snow is like walking on frozen water. Hey speaking of walking on water, my friend did that once. Maybe you've heard of him, his name is Jesus.'? " kind of book.

There are now many underlined sound bites in my copy of the book, and here's one I'd love to share with you:

"I've realized that sometimes I have found myself to be so cold towards non-Christians. Not that I'm mean to them, but I just simply don't feel the weight of the void in their lives." 

I think this really jumped out at me for the simple reason that I've been a Christian as long as I remember.  I remember being told as a kid that inside everyone's heart there is a God shaped hole. I don't have any idea what that means anymore. I mean, I know the concept, it's just not personal to me. I have no idea what it is like to feel a void that only Jesus can fill. I feel no void. And I don't know that I ever have.

Plus, given my incredibly lush Canadian lifestyle, I have no idea what it's like to have a void in my life, period. Like many people I avoid voids.* I struggle to relate to any concept of void. Yet, perhaps there are people who sense a void and just don't know how to put their finger on it. They can't name it and have to live in the discomfort that causes.

I'm speculating now.

I just don't know.

And that's why these words jumped out at me. Turner pointed out to me that perhaps I struggle to relate to my neighbours because they live with something I don't. He shares that he would pray for God to make him aware of what that feels like. I wonder if he still prays that way. I also wonder if I should be praying likewise. Perhaps it would be a greater motivator to reach across the fence.

This book was not only an encouragement to share my faith, but to also strike up conversations with strangers, because any conversation can become an opportunity to share the difference that Jesus makes in my life.

*And you read that right. I was not referencing this game or advertising campaign.

Change Your Church for Good by Brad Powell

In Change Your Church for Good Brad Powell gets to the point quick:

"I believe that the church is the hope of the world...when it's working right. And therein lies the problem. Most aren't!" (page 20)

From there, He goes about sharing encouragements, strategies, and lessons learned the hard way from his years of pastoring.  This wasn't written only for pastors, elders and deacons. It's a book written for all believers who desire to see their neighbours come to a faith in Christ, as Brad points out on page 53, "If you're a believer, God has given you the responsibility to make sure the church is working right. It doesn't matter who or what you are in church--(pastor, volunteer, staff, leader attendee, nonattendee)--God's holding you responsible."

As a pastor I was hesitant at first to pick this book up. I wasn't hesitant because I didn't want the church to be more effective, because I really desire it to be more effective, but because I would hate for someone to see it and draw the wrong conclusions about the book and myself based on the title alone.

Let's be honest, there are too many books out there claiming to change, or fix, whatever you feel you need changed. You want to change your husband? Oh, there are books on that. How about changing your kids, or your boss? Yep, there are books for that too.

But issues with the title aside, the gem of the book is that Brad Powell's love for the church shines through. On every page I got the sense that he writes from a deep desire to see the Church please God and live up to its purpose of making disciples.

I didn't always agree one hundred percent with what was written, but I think that's partly because I suspect the church where I minister doesn't have the same issues as the one written about.

In all, it was a great read, one that took longer than expected because there is a lot in there to wrestle with. As a pastoral staff we are now reading through it together.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”