Tired of Outrage?

Christians in the Age of Outrage by Ed Stetzer belongs are your list of books to read next. When I first heard of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. So, when I won an ecopy via GoodReads, I was very excited. I was not disappointed, and I know you won't be either.

Stetzer organizes Christians in the Age of Outrage into three parts. Part 1 "Why the Age of Outrage?" describes the reasons behind our current culture of outrage. Stetzer provides research describing what has created the outage but does not point fingers or cast blame. After laying this foundation, Stetzer moves on to unpack four "Outrageous Lies and Enduring Truths." These lies include both items Christians believe about secular society and those that secular society believes about Christians. Stetzer carefully describes each untrue belief and then provides the truth. After dispelling these lies, Stetzer moves on to "The Outrageous Alternatives to Outrage." Readers are reminded of how they should be living and encouraged to take additional steps to move away from outrage to outrageous love.

As expected, Ed Stetzer wrote an incredibly well-researched book. He references research conducted by the Billy Graham Research Center where he is currently employed and Lifeway Research Center where he was previously employed. Stetzer also references numerous news stories and other research which are noted at the end of each chapter. Although well-researched as an academic work should be, Christians in the Age of Outrage is also accessible to everyone and an engaging work. While reading, every other sentence seemed to include an amazing quote or thought.

While reading Christians in the Age of Outrage, I felt like I was sitting down with a trusted friend or colleague. Stetzer anticipates every question that comes to mind and answers it in the next paragraph. While reading this book, it is important to remain open-minded. It is easy to approach the book and think that it applies to other people. However, Christians in the Age of Outrage can function as a mirror where you examine yourself (some planks in your eye perhaps?) and discover the changes you need to make, if you let it. I highly recommend Christians in the Age of Outrage for everyone. This book would be an excellent resource for a small group study or the basis of a Sunday School class. Believers everywhere need to get this book and take it to heart!

Speaking of small group studies, Christians at Our Best: A Six-Week Guide to Living in the Age of Outrage is scheduled to be published in February. Obviously, I haven't read it yet, but from the table of contents it look to be a wonderful study focused on part 3 of this title.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, Christians in the Age of Outrage, free from GoodReads. 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 Lady of Astoria Abbey

The Lady of Astoria Abbey was by an unfamiliar author and an unfamiliar publishing house, but the book blurb sounded most interesting and like something I would enjoy. Historical romances is a favorite genre of mine and I rarely read a book I don't like.

As I read The Lady of Astoria Abbey, I did enjoy it for the most part. I found the book a little tedious at the beginning while author, Anita Stansfield, set the stage for the story. After the setting and characters were established, the pace of the plot picked up some. Due to the book blurb, I anticipated a great deal of the plot. There is a significant twist that occurs toward the end of the book, but astute readers will not be surprised by the direction it takes. The main character, Bess, is likeable to both readers and the fellow characters but is almost too good to be true. Readers are drawn to her character due to the hardships she has experienced. I found myself glad when she allowed her true feelings to show and stood up for herself on several occasions. None of the other characters are as well-developed.

While I enjoyed Anita Stansfield as a writer and would read other books by her, I do not see myself running out to read every book she has written. After receiving the book, I looked up Covenant Communications to learn more about this publisher. I found that this publisher is a leading LDS publisher. As such, the book was very wholesome in terms of romance and language. The characters attended church and prayed as appropriate to the time period, but there was not any discussion of faith. As such, I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Readers who enjoy a clean read but do not a book that is preachy would enjoy this title.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, The Lady of Astoria Abbey, free from 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.”

From the Prairies to the Mountains

Some days you find a treasure in unexpected places. Several weeks ago, I did while "weeding" books at my workplace. We recently removed numerous biographies from our library. Most of these books had NEVER been checked out and were not going to be missed. While flipping through one book to see who it was about, I spotted the following inscription:

For some reason, the name "Inez Humphrey" rang a bell. I flipped to the next page where I saw this information:

I about fell out of my chair as Palmyra is my home church! All of a sudden the year of the inscription and the Palmyra connection made me think that my grandmother probably knew this lady. As soon as I could, I ran back to my desk and to my computer where I promptly did a search for Inez Humphrey. I discovered that yes, she was from Palymra. As I continued to do some research, I discovered she had been a distinguished professor at Moorehead State University in Kentucky where her papers are archived, had received an honored alumni award at Eureka College, AND had written a book. So, I promptly did what any self-respecting librarian would do and requested a copy via InterLibrary Loan. The second thing I did was to call my parents that evening to see if they could shed any light on the subject. They recollected familiarity with the name but not much more.

When Humphrey's book, From the Prairies to the Mountains; Memories, Especially of Illinois and Eastern Kentucky, arrived a few short days later, I promptly proceeded to devour it. What made this particular book so interesting was the frequent appearance of names and locations that were familiar to me. Miss Humphrey would describe a location and I would think "I know where that is!" or she would mention some family name and I'd exclaim "I know that family!" or "A person with that name was in m class." As I continued to read, I kept a look out for my own family names to appear. I experienced some brief sadness that no names from my family tree were listed. However, as I read I almost found myself keeping a "family tree" of the names that were mentioned. I often found myself googling different people mentioned so I could locate obituaries and see how people in the book were related to people I knew.

As I read of Miss Humphrey's adventures, I was amazed that someone from my little bitty town and my little bitty church had gone on to achieve such heights of success, particularly as a woman in the early 20th century. I was particularly excited when I realized that her niece was a lady, Frieda Shinpaugh, whom I knew and that our youth group had often visited. Of particular note, Miss Humphrey shared near the beginning of the book that family legend stated her father's family had been baptized by Alexander Campbell or Barton Stone while they lived in Kentucky prior to moving to Illinois. While it is most likely legend, it was exciting to think that the ancestors of individuals I knew may have been baptized by noted historical religious figures and particularly so as I am a librarian at a Stone-Campbell institution.

I'm very thankful to have stumbled upon Miss Humphrey's book. Reading it felt like sitting down to chat with my grandmother and having her share stories about growing up in Palmyra. It was also a walk down memory lane as I recalled my own fond memories, particularly of my home church. I also found that I want to do more research on the Stone-Campbell churches in Illinois and particularly as congregations like my home church moved from being affiliated with the Disciples of Christ to Independent Christian Churches. I would encourage any hometown friends and anyone else who is interested in history to locate a copy.

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.”

Read Diverse Books

I have just finished reading two books that are fairly different from my usual reading diet. I usually read fairly widely, but my preferred fiction genres tend to be historical fiction and gentle mysteries with some light romance thrown in as well, particularly bonnet fiction. Non-fiction wise, I read professionally for work which encompasses works specifically for librarians but also more widely in business, marketing, leadership, etc. I also read a lot of Christian books since I am employed at a Christian university. I stumbled upon the title Where Jasmine Blooms by Holly S. Warah when the title appeared on a list of recommended books somewhere. The synopsis sounded interesting so I promptly requested a copy through our local public library system. The second title, I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown was recommended by a friend on FaceBook and also promptly requested. Both titles were highly engaging and well worth the time to read.

Where Jasmine Blooms is a fiction work centered around the lives of three women in a multi-generational family. Two of the women are white Americans who have married or are marrying into a Muslim family. The third woman is their recently widowed Muslim mother-in-law who is living with one of the families. This book was intriguing for many reasons. The story shows the difficulties of an intercultural marriage as the women interacted with and learned about the expectations of their husband's family. The character of the "Mother," as she is referred to, demonstrates the difficulties of living in a new country where one is unfamiliar with the language and customs. Learning about the Muslim culture and their religious practices was also eye-opening such as when the women attended Qu'ran study just as I would attend a Bible study. Stepping into their lives and learning about the prejudices and fears they experienced as Muslim-Americans and their experiences when traveling to their homeland in the Middle East was also eye-opening. This book is highly recommended as a warm, engaging story that opens your eyes to the experiences of others.

I'm Still Here is a memoir by Austin Channing Brown. From the moment I began reading, I was drawn in to her experiences as her writing demonstrates the often heard adage of "show, don't tell." As her experiences unfold via the pages of the book, conviction sets in as you see yourself or someone you know mirrored in the stories told of interacting with white people at church, school, and the work place. While your heart breaks for her experiences and the experiences of others you know, you are also led to examine your own practices and those of organizations. While familiar with the concept of white privilege, I'm Still Here made the concept much more vivid than previously understood. In one section, Brown shares the experience of white people confessing their sin of racism to her and that now she issues a "challenge toward transformation" asking "So what are you going to differently?" (110). After finishing this book, that is the exact question I am asking myself and of the organization in which I am involved. I enjoyed this book so much and desire others to read it so a copy is being purchased for the library where I am employed. A free discussion guide for this book is available as well as an online course to delve into the content.

My challenge to my readers today is not only to read these books, particularly I'm Still Here, but also to seek out other diverse books. The opportunity to travel geographically (or through time) may not be available, but books provide the opportunity to experience other places and cultures and to walk in the shoes of others. Happy reading!

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.”

The Aging Brain

Recently I participated in a launch team for Timothy Jennings, M.D. new book The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind. This title excited me as I am now closer to retirement than to the beginning of my working career. As a participant in the launch team, I received a free pre-release copy of this title.

I eagerly began to read this book and found the initial chapter immensely interesting. Specifically, the idea that the top 5 leading causes of death are not due to poor health necessarily but due to longer life spans (17). From this point, Dr. Jennings continued with chapters on the importance of overall health and information on genetics. The fourth chapter on "Genes and Aging" was a more challenging read. While Dr. Jennings explains everything well and includes excellent documentation, I found I had to pay very careful attention while reading this section.

Part 2 on "Oxidative Stress and Aging" mentioned the typical health concerns but delved more deeply into their impact on aging. Part 3 moved on to lifestyle changes that should be made. Again, the items listed were items we all know we should do. The final section of the book focuses more on dementia. An entire chapter is devoted to vitamins and supplements useful to combat onset of Alzheimer's. This section was particularly useful and covered topics that aren't addressed in all of the leading magazines.

The best part of this book is the section at the end of every chapter titled "Learning Points" and a section titled "Action Plan: Things to Do" which appears in most chapters. These bulleted lists cut to the heart of the book in an easily memorable format. The Amazing Brain is well documented with extensive endnotes. I would have enjoyed the addition of charts to provide another explanation of the material particularly to depict a process.

Overall I recommend this book with some reservation. While it is a good book and well-documented, I found there was not a lot of information that I couldn't find by reading Prevention Magazine or some other health source. The benefit of the book is the convenience of having all of this content in one place and being able to reference it when desired.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, The Aging Brain, free from Baker Books. 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.”