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.

A New Look at Elisabeth Elliot

While many people are familiar with the name Elisabeth Elliot, her story is not as familiar among a younger generation of Christians. The new biography Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn intends to change that.

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is the first of a two volume biography. This work stands out as Vaughn has made extensive use of Elliot's own journals which she began keeping as a teenager and her husband Jim Elliot's journals. Vaughn also uses interviews with numerous others who worked with Elisabeth or are related to those who did and photographs. These journals had not been published before and offer a new, personal, unfiltered look at Elliot and her life. Vaughn deftly uses excerpts from the journals, interviews, and other materials to create an immensely readable and enjoyable glimpse into the human behind the legend that Elisabeth Elliot became.

Starting as a child, Elliot focused fully on obeying God's word. Going into all the world to preach the Gospel was not a suggestion but God's command. Although Elliot is often seen as a spiritual giant, Vaughn's use of her journals indicates that Elliot struggled with many normal young adult issues and provides an unique look at her experiences dating and her courtship with husband Jim as well as other relationships. A particularly intriguing aspect of Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is the up close and personal look at the interaction between various missionaries and mission agencies as they worked to carry out their desire to carry the Gospel to unreached people groups. While working towards the same goal, readers are reminded that the missionaries and mission agencies mentioned are indeed humans who wrestled with a variety of human traits and foibles.

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is highly recommended to anyone who is interested in world missions or missionaries. Reading this will inspire many to follow God more closely. I look forward to reading the second volume and learning more about this missionary giant.

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

A Life of Alexander Campbell

A Life of Alexander Campbell by Douglas A. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had not read or studied the life of Alexander Campbell although I had some familiarity due to my involvement in the Stone-Campbell Movement and specifically my place of my employment. A full review is being published in a journal but here are a few impressions.

While reading the book, I wish I had kept a notebook to jot down all of the things I wanted to look up or follow-up for later reading or research. I thoroughly enjoyed how Foster set the stage historically to introduce Campbell and his ideas. While focused on the Stone-Cammpbell movement, there is quite a bit about reforms in Presbyterian and Baptist churches during this time period as well due to the frequent debates. From the book, I have the impression that while doing a great deal of good work that can be lauded, Campbell was a hot-head and a genius who thought highly of himself.

The Lost Jewels

The Lost Jewels by Kirsty Manning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lost Jewels is an intriguing book that is difficult to categorize but definitely keeps you reading until the end. Manning combines a split narrative that tells the rags to riches story of Essie while also telling the story of Essie's great-granddaughter who is an art historian specializing in jewelry. While pursuing her latest research project on the Cheapside jewels, Kate soon finds herself in the middle of researching her own family history which has numerous twists and turns. Beyond these two main narratives, numerous other historical sidelines are intertwined with the story as the history of the specific jewels unfolds as well.

Manning does a spectacular job of weaving all of the various plots and sub-plots together into a cohesive story. While readers may ferret out some of the mysteries along the way, Manning does a great job of keeping the story wrapped up until the big reveal. Enough mystery to keep you reading, a little romance thrown in, and strong female protagonists in both the modern and historical stories. A thoroughly enjoyable book!

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.

The Art of Being Indispensable at Work

Everyone wants to be indispensable in their work place. Doing so can be difficult and possibly lead to burnout or being overwhelmed and overcommitted. The Art of Being Indispensable at Work, published by Harvard Business Review Press, provides the resources you need to become the go-to person in your workplace and teach others how to be indispensable as well. After reading this book, being indispensable won't feel like a lofty and out of reach goal.

Tulgan emphasizes that businesses today are using a collaborative model instead of an hierarchical model. This flatter organizational chart can provide opportunities for more cross-departmental projects and collaboration. But cross-departmental projects can lead to confusion as to who is in charge and who has authority over projects. With this collaborative work environment in mind, Tulgan emphasizes the importance of working both vertically with a boss or supervisor and individuals whom report to you as well as sideways and diagonally with individuals in other departments. In all of these relationships Tulgan encourages readers and provides a blue print to become a go-to person who gets things done fast, right, and on time.

From page one until the end of the book, Bruce Tulgan provides practical how-tos and examples everyone can understand and relate to--in fact you will recognize yourself or someone you work with in the examples. While published by a noted business publishing company, this book is not limited to people who work in an office setting or are business executives. This is demonstrated by the fact that Tulgan uses examples drawn from the medical field and manual labor including ditch digging in addition to traditional businesses. The Art of Being Indispensable at Work is highly recommended as a textbook or as a book to read with colleagues. While some might want to keep the secret to being indispensable to themselves, Tulgan encourages that a true indispensable person helps others to become indispensable as well.  Buy this book for yourself and for everyone in your office and learn how to work better and smarter regardless of your position.

I received a complementary copy of The Art of Being Indispensable at Work from Harvard Business Review Press via NetGalley.