Forgotten God by Francis Chan

     What does a Holy Spirit-filled life look like? How many of us can say we truly long for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives? Do you pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit in every decision you make, or just when serious “spiritual” decisions come up? What we tend to forget is that if we neglect the Holy Spirit, we are neglecting God. We are the temples of the Holy Spirit… He lives inside of us, so how can we ignore His presence?

Reading this book immediately after Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love” I did notice many similarities. The premise is the same: the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives should change us in a way that people acknowledge God. This book, however, focuses specifically on the Spirit. It’s a challenge to open ourselves up to what God wants to do in our lives through the Holy Spirit. For some, this may require a serious step outside of our comfort zone. Chan gives several examples of what a Spirit-led life can look like through stories about people both from the Bible and modern times. He explains why he believes the American church is missing out on the fullness of the Spirit, saying, ” …I also believe that the Spirit is more obviously active in places where people are desperate for Him, humbled before Him, and not distracted by their pursuit of wealth or comforts (like we are).” I tend to agree with him.

One more quote that I loved from this book has to do with a job of the Holy Spirit that we seem to have taken on as our own responsibility: “… I cannot convince people to be obsessed with Jesus. Perhaps I can talk people into a prayer, but I cannot talk anyone into falling in love with Christ. I cannot make someone understand and accept the gift of grace. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. So by every measure that actually counts, I need the Holy Spirit. Desperately.” I think this book will challenge you to look at your relationship with God in a way that you’ve never done it before.

I give this one 4 out of 5.

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

The Priest’s Graveyard by Ted Dekker

     When his mother and sisters are killed during a religious war, Danny Hansen makes it his calling to deal with the injustice in the world. Renee Gilmore is a victim of such injustice. When the love of her life is killed, she vows to avenge his death by going after his killer. These two paths eventually cross, and the twists and turns lead them down a road that could end with the deaths of both.

If you’ve been to my blog enough, then you should know I am a huge fan of Ted Dekker. I have yet to read a book he’s written that I absolutely didn’t like. This one, however, is not one of my favorites. Dekker’s skill still shines. He knows how to weave a plot, and the characters are very well written. These characters in particular, though I could sympathize with them, were not really likable… but I believe that may have been intentional. These characters are born out of trauma and pain, which leads them to situations of more trauma and pain. But I think it was the unlikable characters that made me not enjoy the story as much.

As usual, Dekker’s overall theme is love. Not mushy, romantic love… real love. This one also brings in themes of judgement and grace. Overall, it’s still a good story, just not up to par with Dekker’s previous work, in my opinion. You do have to realize, however, that my love of Dekker’s other works puts me into the OMG!-I-love-Ted-Dekker!-fangirl category. So my “negative” review of this book really isn’t all that negative, seeing as I hold his previous work in such high regard.

1) Overall Plot = 4.5
2) Characters = 4
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 4.5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 4

Average of  score 4.4
Overall grade = B

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards

     What is a zombie church? According to Tyler Edwards it is a church that appears to be alive, but is really spiritually dead. It’s a church that goes through the motions of what church is expected to be like, but the heart is gone. What causes a church to become a zombie church? Christ is no longer the center and focus of the church. They may speak of Jesus and even teach about Him, but they don’t try to live like Him. Instead, the zombie church focuses on rituals, events, study groups, etc. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but when they replace Jesus as the focus of the church you are left with a zombie church.

     Zombie Church is Tyler Edwards’ first book, and he’s done a good job. This is going to be a tough read for a lot of people. It’s going to push a lot of people out of their comfort zones, but it’s an important message. Edwards has a love for cheesy zombie movies, and he makes many comparisons between the mindless zombies in these movies and the American church of today. He reminds us that as followers of Jesus we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). The book can be a bit repetitive at times as Edwards drives his point home, but the last two chapters are worth reading the entire book. Those last two chapters focus on living a life of love as Jesus did. It’s a lesson we all need.

1) Is it understandable? = 5
2) Presentation of Information = 4
3) Accuracy
4) Quality of Writing = 4
5) Overall Enjoyability = 4

Average of  score 4.25
Overall grade = B

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from LitFuse.

As part of this blog tour the publisher is sponsoring a $50 Amzon.com giveaway:

About the Giveaway!

To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about Zombie Church or share about it on Facebook!

 If you tweet LitFuse will capture your entry when you use @litfuse. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email LitFuse and let them know (info@litfusegroup.com). Easy.

Not sure what to tweet/post? Here’s an idea: 

TWEET THIS: Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards – a fair-minded & tenderhearted critique of the church http://ow.ly/6Nv05 @litfuse RT for $50 to @amazon

 FACEBOOK THIS: Don’t miss Edwards – a fair-minded and tenderhearted critique of the church. http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13424384 Written for the discouraged, disenfranchised, and anyone unsatisfied with their same-old church routine, Zombie Church challenges readers to turn away from hollow religious practices, which characterize “zombie Christianity,” and turn toward a radical relationship with Jesus. Share this for a chance at $50 to Amazon.com

This was book 36 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris

     Joshua Harris wants you to “discover your place in the family of God.” Previously published as “Stop Dating the Church!” this book discusses why committing to a local church is important, giving Biblical scripture as support. He looks at the misconceptions people have about church and even discusses the idea of people having been “hurt” by the church. Why are there so many denominations? Why don’t church members act like true Christians? What is the true role of the church? Harris then explains what it looks like to be committed to a local church, elaborating on each of the following:

1. You join.
2. You make the local church a priority.
3. You try to make the pastor’s job a joy.
4. You find ways to serve.
5. You give.
6. You connect with people.
7. You share your passion.

We’re then told what to look for in a church. Harris again elaborates on each of the following:

1. Is this a church where God’s Word is faithfully taught?
2. Is this a church where sound doctrine matters?
3. Is this a church in which the gospel is cherished and clearly proclaimed?
4. Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel?
5. Is this a church whose leaders are characterized by humility and integrity?
6. Is this a church where people strive to live by God’s Word?
7. Is this a church where I can find and cultivate godly relationships?
8. Is this a church where members are challenged to serve?
9. Is this a church that is willing to kick me out?
10. Is this a church I’m willing to join “as is” with enthusiasm and faith in God?

Harris reminds us that no church is perfect, and no church will fully fulfill all of these criteria, but we should find the local church that best meets these standards and become committed to it.

     The only part of the book that threw me is that Harris often discusses a church willing to throw out members who didn’t live a Christian life. Being in the first half of the book, it may very likely cause many to close the book. I always thought that a church should be accepting of anyone who wanted to honestly hear the Word of God. Not condoning ungodly lifestyles, mind you, but accepting the person in spite of their sin. How can a person hear God’s Word if he’s kicked out of the place God’s Word is preached? Harris even goes so far as to quote a preacher who says, “If you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, you may well be going to hell.” He does go on to say that it is not, of course, your church attendance that saves you, but that your “local church is there to verify or falsify our claims to be Christians.” It is not until 40 pages latter, in his explanation of question 9 above, that Harris explains this further, and it seems a bit more reasonable with regard to protecting the integrity of the church and it’s message. He also elaborates on confronting someone who is living as an unrepentant sinner, claiming to be a Christian.  He says, “I gain a wonderful sense of protection in knowing that if I committed a scandalous sin and showed no repentance, my church wouldn’t put up with it. They would plead with me to change. They would patiently confront me with God’s Word. And eventually, if I refused to change, they would lovingly kick me out.”  I understand that book has a certain flow to it, but I think when you raise an issue like this in the first 50 pages of a book, you should follow up with a detailed explanation in the next 2 or 3… not 40 pages later. It could leave a reader with a wrong impression. Other than this issue, I enjoyed the book.

1) Is it understandable? = 5
2) Presentation of Information = 4
3) Accuracy = removed from average
4) Quality of Writing = 4
5) Overall Enjoyability = 4

Average of  score 4.25
Overall grade = B

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Multnomah.

This was book 29 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

Sisters in Faith

Earlier this  month I reviewed a book called Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James. In her book, James reaches out to the women of the west to take their rightful places in the Church of God, not inferior or superior to men, but as equals; a different gender with different things to offer as we all reach toward a common goal, which is building God’s kingdom, sharing our faith with others. This is something we should work toward accomplishing, but there are two sides to every coin. James wrote to women of the west, but what about the women of the east? In societies where women are treated as no more than possessions, can eastern women find their place in the Church of God? If that church is grounded in Jesus Christ, the answer is YES!

In the latest issue of Send! Magazine, a free publication of Gospel for Asia, there is a wonderful article about South Asian women reaching out to one another through women’s fellowship programs. You can read the article online in their digital copy of the magazine. In an effort to reach the goal described by James in Half the Church, women of the west should see women like the ones in this article as an example to follow. And we should pray for these brave women as they share God’s word in areas where it is not always safe to do so.

Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James

     “Recapturing God’s global vision for women.” That’s what Carolyn Custis James is trying to accomplish with her new book. Starting with Genesis (God’s creation of man and woman), she cites Biblical stories and figures that show women have an important part to play in the world. Some may shy away from this book, thinking it is a feminist call for women to be elevated over men in the church, but this is not the case. James is actually calling for the gender debate to be put aside and for men and women to work together as brothers and sisters in Christ, unleashing the true potential of the church.

     God undoubtedly created man and woman to be different, but those differences are what makes it important for men and women to work together. Where one is weak, the other is strong. Where one can’t lead, the other can.

     What off-sets this call to equality are the stories of injustice and blatant horror facing women and girls in countries where they are treated as possessions and less than human. It is a call for us to find our full potential so that we might help them find theirs, through Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Zondervan.

Here is the official book trailor:

This was book 7 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.