Reading the Times

When I first picked up Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News by Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, I expected to learn how to better engage with the news which surrounds us via our social media feeds and constant access to the internet. What I found was that this recently published book from InterVarsity Press provided so much more.

After an introduction on "Reading the News in Order to Love Our Neighbors," which is worth the price of the price of the book, Dr. Bilbro, an English professor, focuses on the concepts of attention, time, and community and how they related to our new consumption. Each part contains three chapters which describe the concept, how it relates to our news consumption, and then addresses how to incorporate these new habits into our lives in chapters titled "Liturgies of" the concept. This pattern allows Bilbro, and his readers, the opportunity to dive deep into the concept and then determine how the concept can be implemented in their life. The thesis throughout the book is that Christians should interact with the news seeking to discover how should we love our neighbors and how should we live faithfully in light of eternity. Approaching news with this mindset, allows us to focus on what truly matters but also requires us to reconsider who is our neighbor and where or what is our community. While not anti-technology or social media, Bilbro reminds readers that too often community is formed based on what news media you consume and devolves into taking sides rather than being based on where you live, who are your neighbors, and how can you show Christ's love to them.

Bilbro draws from a variety of interdisciplinary subjects including philosophy and history as well as literature and theology to explore attention, time, and community. He pulls in examples from history and current events and his research is well-documented via extensive footnotes. As such, this book could be used as a textbook or supplementary reading in a variety of courses. Beyond the classroom, Reading the Times is highly recommended to any Christian who wishes to read the news, and the times, from a theological point of view.

I received a complementary copy of Reading the Times from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I am not required to provide a positive review.

Lead Like It Matters

Recently I had the opportunity to read the new book Lead Like It Matters to God: Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World. In this slim book, Richard Stearns who is best known for his role as president of World Vision, presents "17 values to transform your leadership." While published by InterVarsity Press and definitely from a Christian point of view, the primary audience is anyone who is a leader in secular or Christian organizations. Stearns emphasizes that no matter your place of service, anyone who is a Christ-follower is called to be Christ's ambassador in all that they do.

Although there are 17 values presented, Lead Like It Matters to God has 20 chapters which include an introduction, conclusion, and a chapter providing biographical background information about Stearns. As Stearns combines leadership principles with stories from his own experiences, these chapters are helpful in establishing his credibility. For example, while most recently serving in a Christian non-profit organization, Stearns spent the majority of his career working in huge companies such as Parker Brothers and Lenox. His first hand experiences in these companies provids numerous examples which demonstrate the principles he shares are useful in any leadership setting. Each chapter begins with a scripture, a leadership principle, and a quote which introduces the value presented. These resources alone are worthwhile.

While an excellent book for anyone who is or aspires to be a leader in any setting, Lead like It Matters to God is unabashedly Christian. As such, it would make an excellent choice as a textbook or supplementary reading in a leadership course. A small group would benefit from reading and discussing the book together. With 20 brief chapters, an individual could work through the book devotionally as well. If you are still looking for a graduation present for your favorite high school or college graduate or someone who is embarking on a new career, this book is just what you are looking for.

I received a complementary copy of Lead Like It Matters to God from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. All views are my own and I am not obligated to leave a positive review.

Marriage in the Middle

When I requested a review copy of Marriage in the Middle, I had no idea the craziness my life would be when I was reading it. As many of you know recently, my oldest started college. In addition, over Labor Day weekend, my husband of 25 years had open heart surgery. So, during the week when I was reading this book. I was experiencing many of the exact same mid-life issues that Greco mentions. However, some of the mid-life items mentioned my husband and I had already encountered years ago such as dealing with the death of both his parents and numerous other major life changes.

The actual book review:

Many marriage books are geared to one of two audiences it seems: either newlyweds who are trying to start off on the right foot or those who are trying to keep a marriage from falling apart. Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges, and Joys, recently released by Dorothy Littell Greco, does not focus on either of these categories but instead focuses on the unique experiences of marriage at mid-life. As mid-life often brings about changes in responsibilities ranging from being in the sandwich generation to empty-nesters and possible changes in health as well as changes in sexuality as we embrace our own aging process, it only makes sense that our marriages need to grow and change as well. Greco incorporates her own experiences, the experiences of others, and well-documented research regarding marriage and mid-life.

I found Marriage in the Middle a good, solid book that will be referenced frequently. While I did not take lots of notes, I did find myself agreeing with items or thinking "that's a good point." While this book just came out, in many ways, I would have found this book very helpful several years ago and would encourage individuals to read it before they find themselves in the throes of mid-life issues. All in all, a very useful book that will be helpful to many and should be purchased by public and academic libraries and counselors. The discussion questions make it appropriate to be used in small groups or book discussion groups.

I received a complementary copy of Marriage in the Middle from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not obligated to provide a positive review.

Compassion (&) Conviction

For some time I have followed the And Campaign via Twitter, so I jumped at the opportunity to review the book Compassion (&) Conviction.

Throughout Compassion (&) Conviction, a key theme is that Christians have a responsibility to be engaged in politics and that political engagement is one way in which we can show love to our neighbors and live out Micah 6:8. While emphasizing that Christians should be politically engaged, the authors also emphasize that winning political points must not detract from our Christian witness which is our higher priority. The authors also remind Christians that working with others who might not share the same religious views is a good thing and an opportunity to be "salt and light."

One of the items readers will notice right away is that with their emphasis on and, the authors do an amazing job of treating multiple sides of issues equally. Instead of upholding one political party or side and demonizing the other, careful attention is given to treating each equally. After discussing the positives of a progressive viewpoint, the same attention is given to the positives of a conservative viewpoint before looking at negatives associated with each. Readers are also encouraged that it is important to critique your own political party and reminded that political party must never be placed higher than our allegiance to Christ.

While particularly timely given the current election season, Compassion (&) Conviction is highly recommended for Christians who want to know more about how to be politically engaged in a Christ-honoring way. I particularly enjoy the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and the calls to not just read about politics but to actively engage in the topic with others. These resources make Compassion (&) Conviction an excellent resource for a small group study or as a supplemental text in a college level U.S. Government class.

I received a complementary copy from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

Be Kind to Yourself!

It can be so difficult to be kind to yourself. Often the words we use in our self-talk or our lack of taking time for ourselves to rest and rejuvenate are exactly the opposite of what we would say or encourage anyone else to do. I think we have heard the acronym JOY, put Jesus first, then Others, then Yourself so often that in many respects we feel guilty being kind to ourselves and feel that it is not what "good Christians" do. Well, hang on to your hats, because this brand new book gives you permission and encouragement as well as specific ideas on how to Be Kind to Yourself!

To many readers, the name Cindy Bunch is not unfamiliar as she is the associate publisher and director of editorial for InterVarsity Press and is particularly involved in their Formatio line of spiritual formation books. As such she's been around the publishing business for a long time, but Be Kind to Yourself is her first book she has written beyond LifeGuide Bible Studies. One of the first things you notice about this book is that it is a "doing book" rather than a book to simply read. Throughout the book from p. 7 to near the last page, Bunch highlights a variety of practices in which the reader can engage. These practices are so important that there is an index of them at the back of the book. Trying to add all 41 of these practices to your life at one time could be kind of overwhelming. For this reason, I suggest that this is a book you will wish to dip into often as a treasury of ideas to implement as needed instead of adding all of the practices to you to-do list. However, the one practice you will want to implement that is referenced throughout the book is a version of the Daily Examen.

Throughout the book Bunch comes back to the questions of "What's bugging you?" and "What's bring you joy?" It so refreshing and freeing to be able to acknowledge what bugs you and you can do so using this 30 Days of Awareness download that Bunch has made available. Dwelling on those items can be detrimental but stuffing them down and never admitting them can be equally so.  After introducing these two questions, Bunch uses them to introduce each chapter. Each chapter begins with an episode from Bunch's life which is used as a springboard to demonstrate how she became with familiar or has used a particular practice in her life and how you can to. When introducing the various practices, Bunch frequently mentions a book or resource in which more information can be found. I have a feeling that I will be returning to many of those familiar titles or locating titles that were new to me.

I highly recommend this brief book. Be Kind to Yourself is a book you will return to frequently as you consider and use the various practices described. It would be a great book to work through with others and to share your experiences using the various practices. This book is also highly recommended as a book to gift to others in your life.

Way Up Is Down

The title The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself caught my attention on Twitter and sounded interesting. In 10 chapters, author Marlena Graves digs into the Bible and spirituality and particularly focuses on kenosis or voluntary self-emptying. She returns to this word and concept throughout the book and spends a most of the first chapter unpacking its meaning.

While reading this book, I enjoyed Graves' honesty and openness. She does not hesitate to share stories from her own life. I felt almost like I was reading someone's journal as you are allowed to experience raw anger and grief alongside the author as well as joy. However, she quickly moves to share biblical and spiritual truths that arose from those moments. Graves also pulls in examples from other lives to illustrate her points. I found this is not a book to read quickly. It needs to be savored and thought about in order to truly grasp and apply the concepts presented. Reading the book in community with others would provide opportunity to discuss and apply these truths.

I received a complementary copy from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am not required to provide a positive review.

Mission 3:16

When I spotted Mission 3:16: God's One-Verse invitation to Love the World, I knew I had to read it for several reasons. First, it combines world missions , a subject I'm passionate about, and John 3:16 a verse everyone knows. Second, Mission 3:16 is the newest book by Paul Borthwick. I have read many of his other books such as A Mind for Missions, Six Dangerous Questions to Transform Your Worldview, and How to Be a World-Class Christian. Being familiar with these books, I knew this title would be wonderful and I was not disappointed.

Since nearly everyone is familiar with the verse John 3:16 and in some ways it is referenced so often that it feels overdone, you may wonder what more could be said or written about it. Borthwick shows that a great deal can be written about it! He breaks John 3:16 down phrase by phrase and in so doing explodes your common understanding of this verse. The central theme of this exposition of John 3:16 as you can tell from the title is missions. However, even more than missions Borthwick unpacks that God's love should inspire and encourage us go out to love the world and share God's love with others. By the end of the book, you will add John 3:15 to your list of favorite mission verses and realize that you didn't know quite as much as you thought.

While Mission 3:16 is thoroughly researched and footnoted, Borthwick has a conversational tone which makes this book very readable and enjoyable. He shares many stories, often from his own experiences, demonstrating how the principles he shares can be lived out. As such, this book is appropriate for a wide audience ranging from college students to adults. I can see it being a great resource for a Sunday School class or Bible study or as background reading for a sermon series. As it is published by Intervarsity Press, I especially can see this book being featured at the upcoming Urbana 21 conference as a Book of the Day.

I received a complementary copy from IVP via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

Remember Me

In August I read Shades of Light by Sharon Garlough Brown. Her soon to be released book Remember Me picks up with Wren and Kit in a briefer novella.

Wren continues to work through mental illness and to draw consolation from her art. While Wren continues to the a main focal point of the story, Brown turns her attention a bit more to Kit in this title. Kit is helping Wren not only because she is her aunt but because she has struggled with significant mental illness herself. While providing guidance and encouragement to Wren, Kit begins writing letters to Kit that share some of her own story. Her own experiences have helped her to be the spiritual director and wise woman she is today. Reading Kit's story reminded me of the book As I Recall as Kit definitely used and has used her memories and experiences to grow spiritually. Brown does a marvelous job of creating real characters who struggle with raw emotions and experiences. This definitely is not an "everything is coming up roses" typical Christian novel.

As in Shades of Light, using and creating art as part of a spiritual journey continues to be a strong component of Remember Me. In particular, Wren interacts with and creates artwork that will be utilized in the Stations of the Cross. As the story builds up to the traditional Stations of the Cross, it is a wonderful book to read during the Lenten season. The book includes devotional content and artwork that will also help readers in their spiritual preparation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Remember Me from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

The End of Hunger

Too often we think of The End of Hunger as something that would be nice but not likely to happen as it seems to be simply too big of a problem. We do our part by participating in fundraisers at church or school and buy goats as Christmas presents knowing full well that a year later, we'll do it all again. What if there The End of Hunger was truly possible and we're going about it all wrong? The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World, recently published by IVP, shows that ending hunger truly is possible and needs to be at the top of your reading list.

The End of Hunger contains essays by top economists, politicians, doctors, and many others. As such, this is not a quick, easy, feel good read. It must be read slowly so that the reader can fully absorb the content. The statistics and facts shared lay out how extensive the problem of hunger is and how hunger and malnutrition are the root causes of so many other world issues such as human trafficking, war,immigration, orphans, and nearly everything else that comes to mind. Yet, these same chapters lay out how their truly is enough food in the world and there is enough money for the problem of hunger to be solved.

The End of Hunger needs to be read slowly and thoughtfully so that you can contemplate the content that is shared and act on it. It is a book that needs to be read with others in order to process effectively. Anyone who cares about hunger or involved in raising funds for hunger relief in the U.S.A. or the world needs to read this book. Be prepared to have your heart broken, be frustrated, and to write lots of letters to politicians. Although I received a free copy, this is a book I'm definitely going to purchase in a paper copy so I can refer to it often and share with others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The End of Hunger from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Everyone's Goal is to Write Better!

If you read any non-fiction from Christian publishers, you are most likely familiar with InterVarsity Press (IVP). If that is the case, you have also unknowingly benefited from Andrew Le Peau's talents. Andrew Le Peau has distilled his years of working with and advising writers at IVP into his newest book Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality.

As the sub-title suggests, Le Peau divides his book into three parts. In Part 1: The Craft of Writing, Le Peau tackles 10 topics which even the most experienced writers struggle with such as opening sentences, writer's block, and re-writing. I found Le Peau's chapters on "The Character of Persuasion" and "The Craft of Persuasion" particularly useful. In these chapters, he addresses topics related to research, finding reliable sources, and bias in sources as well as how to write persuasively. As I teach how to research, I found this section quite useful and will be referencing it frequently.

Moving to Part 2: The Art of Writing, Le Peau emphasizes that all writing needs to be creative writing in order to present content in a new way that will connect with your audience. He then proceeds to discuss tone, metaphor, and other topics. I quite enjoyed his admonition that it's OK to break the "rules" particularly when it serves your purpose.

Part 3: The Spirituality of Writing sets Writing Better apart from all of the other books about writing. Le Peau emphasizes that writing is a spiritual act and can be a ministry. He particularly cautions that those who write and publish in any format are looked up to by others and given authority. This authority must be handled carefully--especially so when dealing with spiritual matters. Le Peau also skillfully addresses the important questions of promoting your work as a writer.

Le Peau concludes this marvelous book with numerous appendices. These 5 appendices include words of wisdom from his years of editing experience regarding topics such as coauthors, copyright, and self-publishing. I will admit that given Le Peau's long history in publishing his comments about self-publishing were a bit surprising but made sense. Le Peau has also posted additional resources online that can be downloaded as well.

Anyone who writes in any capacity or who desires to write should add Write Better to their bookshelf. While focusing on non-fiction writing, many of Le Peau's suggestions apply to fiction as well. While reading the book straight through is wonderful, Write Better will be most useful as a frequently referenced text to work on specific aspects of writing. Writing groups may find it useful to work through each chapter in a workshop setting. Writing teachers will find Le Peau's work a useful resource as a textbook or minimally as a resource in preparing lessons on these topics. His downloadable instructor resource Questions and Exercises for Students and Others is most useful.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Write Better via NetGalley from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Priscilla

I had been anticipating the new book Priscilla: The Life of an Early Christian by Dr. Ben Witherington III for most of the last year since I first saw it in the IVP catalog. Witherington takes his knowledge as a Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and spins a story surrounding the character of Priscilla in the Bible who is most often mentioned in conjunction with her husband Aquila. Through the story Priscilla is telling her story to her adopted daughter Julia who is serving as her scribe. In this narrative, Priscilla tells the behind the scenes stories of the life of early Christians. Throughout her story, Priscilla eludes to many scripture passages and events as well as historical events. Witherington uses his background in New Testament and the history of the time period not only to fill in myriad details of what actually happened. He also introduces each chapter with quotes from various primary sources of the time period and includes numerous images to illustrate the story as well. Copius footnotes are included so that readers can follow-up on interesting items.

Finishing the book, I found that I enjoyed it and recommend it to others, but I didn't love the book like I anticipated I would. The story was well-researched and interesting and having the narrative "what if" of early Christian life will send many readers back to their Bibles to re-read passages. However, the story line as told by Priscilla was not as gripping as I had hoped. It read more like a biography than as historical fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Priscilla via NetGalley and purchased a copy to donate to the library where I am employed. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Redeeming Your Memories

When was the last time you paused to really think about your memories? Everyone has them and our memories--both good and bad--are so important to who we are. However, many times we do not stop to think about all of the stories that make up our past and impact our future. Casey Tygrett's new book As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life published by InterVarsity Press sets out to change how you interact with your memories.

Frequently, we only wish to engage with our happy memories. The warm fuzzies of life or the mountain top experiences are important, but sometimes we benefit from or learn more as a person from the not so great memories. Often, the times when we completely blew it are the memories that God uses to teach us and help us grow. Tygrett uses psychology and spirituality to show how memories help us to grow as a person and a Christ-follower. He particularly emphasizes the importance of redeeming our memories instead of pretending they do not exist. Tygrett uses a wide variety of imagery to refer to memories and frequently uses the motif of shells and collecting seashells. Another image which particularly resonated with me was drywall and that you can't put up new drywall over a mess without cleaning it up first."

Casey's strengths as a spiritual director and Bible teacher shine in his book. Throughout the book, Tygrett moves easily from psychology topics and brain research related to memories to Bible teaching and spiritual exercises. Along side these researched, teaching portions, he transparently shares many stories of his own life and memories as well as stories from his ministries. His tone is very conversational even when referencing researched sections. His writing style and sharing from his own life experiences creates a very readable and engaging book that you might be tempted to read straight through. However, failure to stop and put the "Pauses" that included at the end of every chapter into practice would be a huge mistake. These spiritual exercises help you to process the content and truly serve to help you redeem your memories to further your spiritual walk.

As I Recall is a marvelous book you will want to add to your collection. You will wish to dip back into the riches frequently and will find it useful to engage in the "Pauses" on a regular basis. Individuals who work as counselors or spiritual directors will wish to encourage others to read and work through this book. Small groups who know each other well and are willing to be vulnerable with each other may find this book helpful to read together as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book As I Recall via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I am also privileged to have known and interacted with the author while he was a student.

The Common Rule

Many readers who have encountered Earley's website https://www.thecommonrule.org/ may wonder why they need to read the book The Common Rule when the information is available online for free. There are several reasons this book by Justin Whitmel Earley is an important investment. I personally found that the website provides just the basic what of Earley's habits. However, his book does a marvelous job of fleshing out the why behind the daily and weekly habits as well as how to incorporate the habits into your life. The chapter on each habit provides some background information on why the habit is important both from a research standpoint and via stories from Earley's own experiences.. Earley does not sugar coat his experiences but honestly shares how these habits became a core part of his life and what his life was like before he developed this rule of life. Earley then provides suggestions on making the habit a part of your life including examples on various ways the habit could be implemented. Several books are also listed for further reading. Earley also provides several suggestions to help various individuals such as parents, full time workers, and creative implement the rule and suggestions for how small groups may utilize the rule together.

In summary, The Common Rule is an interesting mix of part Christian spiritual disciplines/self-help and part spiritual memoir. Individuals or small groups who desire to add structure to their lives will find this a helpful book to do so.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book The Common Rule from IVP via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Are you welcoming others?

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is a book you'll want to read slowly and thoughtfully. I actually finished it last week but needed to mull over the book before writing a review. Kent Annan has written several prior books and is no stranger to this topic as he has worked with refugees in numerous countries and leads the M.A. at Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute.

Annan does a wonderful job of wedding stories from his personal experiences with statistics and Biblical teaching. A primary focus is Biblical teaching. Annan's prime emphasis is Christ welcomes us,(in fact he did while we were still sinners,) and as Christ-followers we need to be welcoming to others who are made in the image of God as well. His stories place you in the middle of a scenario and make you think "what if?" What if your home was destroyed and you needed to start over in a completely different country? What if your community or country was not a safe place to raise your family? Questions such as these and many others help you to imagine yourself in these situations. Beyond these questions, Annan tells the stories of specific refugees and immigrants as well as individuals who are assisting them. Numerous illustrations show how individuals in impoverished countries are sharing what little they have with refugees. Another memorable illustration told of a community who was going to accept refugees but was impacted by a devasting fire. The fire and damage helped the community residents to better identify with the refugees who had lost everything and they proceeded to welcome the refugees. These illustrations of generosity in the midst of despair are quite convicting.

Annan notes that when churches and communities welcome refugees, we are often the ones who are the most changed by the experience. Annan backs up these stories with a variety of statistics regarding the number of refugees and immigrants and points out that the U.S. receives a small percentage of the world's refugee population. Keep in mind that Annan does not advocate a completely open border. He indicates that we do need a vetting system even while we more generously welcome refugees. Annan also points out that countries near disasters and war zones accept many more refugees than the U.S.A. ever could but that we could do so much more than the current 0.2% of the world's refugees. Annan also does a marvelous job of debunking a variety of myths which surround refugee and immigrant populations such as they take American jobs or being a security risk. These statistics can be viewed in the following infographic provided by InterVaristy Press.

You Welcomed Me: Loving Refugees and Immigrants Because God First Loved Us is highly recommended. The book is highly engaging and accessible as it focuses on stories backed up with statistics rather than being an academic tome. Annan also provides specific practice challenges at the end of each chapter. These challenges take the reader beyond the book to actually engage with others, to share their stories, and to welcome them. Some individuals may find these challenges difficult to do not because they are hard but because they live in locations where the challenges are difficult to accomplish. For example, readers in rural areas may find it difficult to locate someone who is new to our country or locating a church or nonprofit that is working with refugees. Each challenge exists to help readers experience opportunities to welcome others and to break down barriers.

I was most excited to discover a FREE six-session video course has been created to accompany this book. I have not worked through this curriculum, but I believe it will provide the basis for much needed discussion about this topic. A FREE 13 page Family Toolkit is also available to help families discuss this topic. Both of these resources will help to make this already rich resource accessible to an even wider audience.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book You Welcomed Me free from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Give Your Children Eyes for the World

Many individuals are familiar with the influential prayer resource Operation World. Many are also familiar with Window on the World, often dubbed "Operation World for kids" which was originally released in 2001. Imagine my excitement when I opened a package on my doorstep to find the just released Revised edition of Window on the World! I spotted as I was leaving for the Global Impact team meeting at church and was quite excited to share it with other team members.

The first thing you will notice about the revised resource is an abundance of color. The cover of the book invites a young person (and adults!) to pick it up and to begin perusing. As you begin page through the book, the color pictures, flags, maps and colorful text boxes of each two page spread draw you in. When you begin to read the text, the story format shares a variety of information about each country in an engaging manner. In addition to the story, there are specific bulleted prayer points.

With a total of 92 countries listed plus information on world religions, there is a lot of content here that can be used in multiple ways. The format of Window on the World is intentionally flexible so that it can be used in a variety of contexts and with a variety of age groups. The story for each country has several bold headings which allow the reading to be broken up over several days. Each country also has 7 or 8 specific prayer points so that families could pray for a whole week about one country. Or a family with older children or even an adult could read the entire story and use all of the prayer points in one sitting. Windows on the World is perfect to use for family devotions. Many families may wish to use the resource as a springboard to do other research about a country as well. Some may even choose to choose books (non-fiction and fiction) to expand this book into a full-fledged world geography course. Some international cooking and a map on the wall indicating what countries have been prayed for would accompany this resource nicely. The opportunities to use this resource in a children's Sunday School class or other children's ministry setting are endless.
While the primary audience is children, adults will profit from this amazing resource as well. If you are just starting to pray for the world or if Operation World seems a little too big, Window on the World is an excellent place to begin or to rekindle your prayers for the world. You will soon find yourself reaching for more prayer fuel as you see the world through God's eyes.

This resource is a must purchase for any family who wants to raise world Christians and as such should be added to your Christmas shopping list ASAP. Homeschooling families and Christian schools will want to use this resource. Children's ministers will want to stock multiple copies for their classrooms. I encourage you to obtain this book as quickly as possible. You won't regret this purchase.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, Window on the World, free from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sustainable Children's Ministry

Are you a children's minister or do you work or volunteer in your church's children's ministry? Are you a parent, church leader, or church member how is interested in children's ministry? Then you need to read Sustainable Children's Ministry by Mark DeVries and Annette Safstrom as soon as possible!

Sustainable Children's Ministry: From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions was published this year by IVP and written by Ministry Architects who previously produced Sustainable Youth Ministry and provides a wide range of church consulting services. Individuals familiar with Sustainable Youth Ministry will find similarities between the previously published book and the newer Sustainable Children's Ministry, but will also find that the content has been completely re-written with examples and information pertinent to children's ministry staff. In fact, the introduction provides the fascinating story of how Annette Safstrom, whose voice and story you hear throughout the book, helped to initiate the writing of this book.

Anyone who has worked in children's ministry in any capacity, knows that there is one thing after another, you always have to plan for the next event, and are searching for that elusive event that will entice parents and their children to participate and stay involved in your children's ministry. The tasks involved are tiring just to think about! Reading Sustainable Children's Ministry is like having an experienced children's minister come along side you to commiserate and share what has worked for them. Knowing that the author has been in your shoes and is sharing practical tips is so reassuring. While not wishing to divulge all of the gold nuggets of information from this book, the number one item Safstrom shares is to plan ahead instead of living week to week. She then provides step by step suggestions on how to do so.

The opening paragraph indicates this book is not just for practicing children's ministers but also for church leaders and church members. Sustainable Children's Ministry is recommended to a wide audience as it helps readers to better understand the needs of the children's ministry department and will allow better advocacy for this important area of church ministry. As a sporadic church ministry volunteer, my appreciation for this ministry area grew. Sustainable Children's Ministry will be useful as a textbook in children's and family ministry classes, definitely belongs in libraries serving ministry students, and on the shelf of every children's minister. Beyond the specific church ministry applications, many of the concepts shared are applicable to a wide variety of careers and life circumstances. Numerous items mentioned in Sustainable Children's Ministry will be tweaked and then applied in my own workplace, family, and personal life. With that said, I'm going to go find some balcony time and figure out my rhythmic week as well as re-read this book and take better notes!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, Sustainable Children's Ministry, free from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sensible Shoes Series: Spiritual Formation Plus Story

Recently, I received a review copy of An Extra Mile by Sharon Garlough Brown. Noting this book was the fourth book in a series, I decided I wanted to read the whole series in order to better understand the story. I'm very glad I did as I proceeded to read the entire four book series in just over a week and the whole story is really necessary to reading the fourth book.

This series is unique in that it combines a wonderful story with spiritual formation exercises that are included right in the midst of the book. The premise of the series is that in Sensible Shoes, four women meet when they each individually sign up to attend a multi-week spiritual journey group. The four women are quite disparate in their life stages and station but through the books come together to form a small group of sorts. The story follows each woman both individually and as a group centering on how they are being changed as a result of their spiritual journey and the spiritual exercises they are doing. The exciting aspect of having the spiritual exercises included is that the reader not only reads about how the exercises are life transforming for the character but also has the opportunity to experience life transformation as well.

As mentioned previously the characters in this story are quite disparate and most likely would have never met and definitely would not have formed a small group if they hadn't met at the spiritual journey group. The characters range from a young newly married PhD student, a single associate minister on sabbatical, a widowed empty-nester who recently buried her mom, and a mom in the midst of a messy home life and subsequent divorce whose story resembles that of the Samaritan woman at the well. The college age daughter of the empty-nester appears prominently in book two, Two Steps Forward and book three, Barefoot, and as a main character in book four. As noted before, they are a random group of women and as they initially meet some of the characters exhibit disdain towards others based on prior experiences, but over the course of the books they women form extremely close bonds that go well beyond friendship. In addition to the main female characters, readers are introduced to their families, the men in their lives, and numerous other characters that cross their paths. As they all live in the same town, they find they know many people in common which serves to increase their close bonds.

As noted previously, I read these books in just over a week. I will admit that while enjoying the spiritual formation aspect, during this first read, I concentrated mostly on the story which draws the reader inside. Although there are four books, the techincal time span of the series is just over 9 months although the author skillfully uses flash backs to weave in the story of each woman's life. During the 9 months in which the books take place, even though the women have just met, they travel with each other through nearly all of the major events a woman can experience which made me have difficulty putting them down (hence the really rapid reading). While reading, I rejoiced and weeped with the characters. I enjoyed that the characters in the book are real and are working through significant life issues and wondering "God, where are you in this situation?" or "Jesus, how can I follow you when I've made such a mess of everything?" These are definitely not "fluffy" reads by any means. A particularly poignant section for me was reading about the premature birth of a baby and remembering feeling the exact same emotions when my own children were born premature. Having read the books initially for the story, I look forward to re-reading the books more intently for the spiritual formation. I want to journey with the Sensible Shoes ladies once more as an active participant in their spiritual journey.

Author Sharon Garlough Brown draws upon her experience as a spiritual director and retreat leader throughout these books. Her website provides information on her speaking schedule and suggested resources related to the books. I highly encourage women's groups to read these wonderful books in a study or book club setting. Many women will find these books are their first introduction to the concept of spiritual direction and will desire to locate either a spiritual director or spiritual retreat opportunities. The books also kindle a longing for the tight relationship these women have.

Having journeyed with the characters in this book, I must confess to being sad that An Extra Mile is the last book in this series. There are many loose ends to the story that simply begs a further installment in the series. I hope author Sharon Brown will continue to write.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the fourth book, An Extra Mile, free from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Understanding Your Teen

In less than one month, I will be the proud mother of not just one but two teenagers. Thus, receiving a copy of Understanding Your Teen: Shaping Their Character, Facing Their Realities by Jim Burns, president of HomeWord, was quite timely and appreciated. Jim Burns writes from the perspective of both an expert in adolescence who has spent a lifetime working with teens and a parent who lived to tell about raising his three daughters to adulthood. As such, the book is grounded in research but filled with stories illustrating the concepts.

This volume is divided into two parts--Part 1: Parenting Teems to Become Responsible Adults and Part 2: Common Teen Issues and What Parents Can Do. Jim Burns opens Understanding Your Teen by describing the vast changes that have occurred since today's parents went through the teen years and that parents cannot make assumptions about their teens' experiences. This is a theme he often returns to throughout the book. Burns continues to lay a firm foundation by briefly outlining adolescent development and general parenting strategies before delving into adolescent issues. As expected in a book about parenting today's teenager, the subjects of media, sexuality, education, and communication are addressed as well as spirituality. Surprisingly, Burns also addresses the importance of a strong marriage in effectively parenting teens. Part 2 of Understanding Your Teen functions as a mini encyclopedia describing numerous teen issues, symptoms of the issues, and brief suggestions on how to handle them. This section is intensely practical and useful to have on hand when needed.

A highlight of this volume is the great questions that appear at the end of each chapter in part one. These questions are ideal for spouses to use as they read and interact with the material. They also make this book an ideal resource for a parenting class or Bible study group. Youth ministers will wish to be familiar with this book as a resource to recommend to parents. Church and public libraries will desire to add this to their shelves.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have You Blessed Someone Today?

"Blessed to be a blessing" is a phrase oft repeated in Christian circles. While meant as an encouragement, too often the idea of blessing others becomes another chore to check off a to-do list. In the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas, when we often spend more time considering our blessing and how much we have to be thankful, many feel encouraged to bless others, particularly those we term "less-fortunate" in a variety of ways. While always appreciated, the idea of blessing others is not limited to specific times of the year. Gerrit Dawson, in his book The Blessing Life: A Journey to Unexpected Joy published by InterVarsity Press, changes the idea of blessing from something to check off our list or another things to do during the busy Christmas season into a joyful response to God for every day no matter the season.

Dawson's book is divided into three parts which are titled Receiving Blessing from God, Returning Blessing to God, and Reflecting God's Blessing to Others. However, before delving into part one, begin by reading the introduction where Dawson sets the stage for his book. From the first page, Dawson makes it clear that the Blessing Life does not mean "a peachy, everything is all right" existence but "a vibrant relationship with the triune God who loves us utterly" (13). With the relational view in place, Dawson begins to discuss the variety of ways we receive blessing from God. He spends an entire chapter addressing the topic of blessing in the midst of suffering and emphasizes that these concepts are not exclusive of each other.

Part 2 Returning Blessing to God takes a slightly different format. Chapter 5 introduces the concept of blessing God emphasizing that blessing God can be practiced and learned. The subsequent chapters in this section each focuses on a picture of God and leads readers through meditating on that picture. These chapters deserve a slow and careful reading. Turning to part 3 Reflecting God's Blessing to Others, Dawson emphasizes a variety of ways Christians can bless others including those who persecute you and the importance of blessing through forgiveness.

Throughout the book, Dawson provides multiple examples from the lives of Christians showing that The Blessing Life is possible. The book also contains numerous scripture references and other citations. Dawson expertly combines stories of blessing, scripture, artwork, and music references into a book which inspires readers to not only go and bless others but to realize the ability to bless others is rooted in receiving a blessing from God. While reading the book, the children's chorus "the blessings come down as the prayers go up" frequently came to mind.

While a wonderful book by itself, Dawson also has a forty-day companion book titled A Guide to the Blessing Life which contains scripture reading and prayer corresponding to the book. I have not personally seen or used the companion guide to comment on its content yet although I plan to do so. The Blessing Life, with or without the companion guide, would make a wonderful resource for personal or group study. With the companion guide, it is well-suited for a church-wide study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from InterVarsity Press. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Finding God on Ancient Paths

This weekend I finished reading Flirting With Monasticism: Finding God on Ancient Paths by Karen Sloan (IVP, 2006). The had been sitting on my "to read" pile through I-Share for quite some time. The looming date finally spurred me to read it. In brief, this book recounts the story of a Protestant girl (technically a Presbyterian minister by trade but not by practice) and her friendship with a young man who is entering the Dominican order and how she is lead to learn more about the Dominicans and incorporate various monastic or Catholic spiritual practices into her life. This book read quickly and was an interesting story. However, I was not satisfied with it. I must admit that it did not live up to the high expectations I generally have of IVP books. This book was not from their academic line, but wasn't even on the par with other books in their popular line. The author takes a girl next door tone and resorts to several passages where she uses "Me: Them:" to reproduce dialogue. I expected to have more research and how-to's in addition to the story line which precipitated the writing. I was hoping the book would knock my socks off and I could then recommend it for adding to the library where I work. I will not make such a recommendation and must confess this is the first IVP book in which I have been disappointed.