 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
RADIO RHEMA – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” BOOK REVIEWS “PURPOSE-FILLED PRESENTATIONS” by Tony Jeary. Standard. It has been claimed that the one thing many people fear more than death is having to speak in public. A few people have a natural gift in this regard but for most people it is a challenge they struggle with or shy away from. Zig Zigler contends that “Speaking is a skill, which means it can be learnt” and I believe that is true - but it does take time, instruction, application and practice. From personal experience I can say that it is well worth the effort. Today’s book, “PURPOSE-FILLED PRESENTATIONS” provides the instruction part of the equation. Author, Tony Jeary, known as Mr. Presentation, is a master presenter who trains top CEOs around the world and this book is a practical handbook for any teacher, preacher or speaker. He writes…”The chances are, if you’re active in your church, at some point you’ll have to talk to people. People you may not even know. Your presentation may be informal and momentary – like greeting people at the door – or formal and momentous – like sharing your testimony before a congregation. But either way it will make an impact.” (End of quote) It goes without saying that the kind of impact it makes can vary from negative to extremely positive depending on the content, quality of presentation and the manner in which it is presented. Obviously ones personality comes into the equation too. If you are of a retiring, shy nature there is more to overcome than if you are an outgoing extravert person. On one hand the need to grow in confidence on the other to learn to curb over confidence in ones own ability. Tony Jeary’s handbook covers a lot of ground in seeking to achieve its aim of enabling any Christian to communicate more effectively to anybody, anywhere and at any time. The first step to being confident when called upon to speak in public is to be well prepared and such preparation goes well beyond just what you plan to say. There is the need to decide on your subject, unless of course your subject has been given you, then clarify objectives by having a clear understanding of what you believe is to be accomplished by what you say. To do this there will be the need to define your audience by creating a profile of who you expect to be there. If the group is not known to you personally you will be wise to ask the person who has invited you what the makeup of the audience is likely to be and what their expectations of you are. 2. The next step is to gather the material that will form the content of what you are to say. Time and thought will be required as you put that content into an order that will flow, and be easy to follow, from start to finish. The author goes into great detail as to how this can be done in such a way that the message is both interesting and informative and has a positive impact on those who hear it. In chapter three Tony provides a powerful 3-D outline as a way to maximize effectiveness. Most people called upon to speak in public suffer from nervousness so chapter two deals with how to reduce this and grow in confidence. A list of some common sources of fear are listed and a chart given that provides a solution for each of these sources of fear. “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” writes the author of Proverbs. How you begin what you plan to say is very important. Engaging with your audience in a strategic way will capture their interest and encourage them to follow your line of reasoning as you progress. The second part of the book has to do with applying the basics and provides teaching in nine different scenarios where an up front leading role is required. Including sharing ones own testimony, hosting a worship service, leading and empowering a small group, other teaching opportunities through to creating great first impressions. Tony Jeary writes in his conclusion…”Whatever your role in the church, I can tell you with certainty that it is vital to growing and building your local ‘body’ to make it function as it should. The church is not a one man band. As wonderful as pastors are, they cannot—and were never meant to—do the work alone. Ephesians That is the aim of this book too. To enable and equip Christians to more confidently share their faith one to one or in more public settings. So as Ken Blanchard writes…”Whether you’re a Sunday School teacher, small group leader, or a pastor, this book will give you the tools you need to make your presentations count.” “PURPOSE - FILLED PRESENTATIONS” by Tony Jeary is published by Standard. R.R.P. $31.99 (ISBN 978-0-7847-2314-2 Published 2009 - 238 pages) Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “I’m a Christian, aren’t I?” by Dan Clark. Inter Varsity Press. $29.99 It is stating the obvious to say that when leaving a It seems such an essential thing to have that one wonders how people can do such a thing. If, having the assurance of a current Passport when traveling overseas is important, it is even more important to have the assurance that we are prepared for that last journey of life, from time into eternity. From what one hears said it is obvious that many people have a very wooly understanding of the “Passport” required for that journey if the hoped for destination is to be heaven and not the only other alternative. One only has to ask a cross section of people in the street what a Christian is and you will receive a whole raft of answers. “I’m a Christian – I try to lead a good life.” “I was christened as a baby – that makes me a Christian doesn’t it?” Christians believe in God, don’t they? I believe in aliens.” “I’m church of England. I love to go to church at Christmas.” “I was raised in a Christian family and go to church once in a while; doesn’t that make me a Christian?” Surely being a Christian is more than the sum total of all of these and the many other innocuous claims that people make. It is this apparent confusion that spurred Dan Clark, and Anglican minister to write his new book…”I’m a Christian, aren’t I?” It is obvious that many people think of themselves as Christians but aren’t quite clear what that means. Some people are confused, others have had a bad experience of church, or have been put off by what they see as being hypocrisy on the part of some people who claimed to be Christians. This is too important a subject to leave people thinking such things. What it means to be a Christian, in the fullest sense of the word, is not hard to define and this is what Dan Clark does in this simple, but profound book. He explains that to be a Christian involves five key ingredients. He pictures these as a jigsaw puzzle that requires all five pieces fitting into place to be complete. He writes…”The challenge won’t be to put the pieces together; the challenge will be to make sure all the five pieces are present.” The first piece of the jigsaw is “believing”. Having faith in Jesus Christ and being willing to trust him fully. It also involves believing the Bible and what it teaches concerning the things of God. 2. A newspaper survey in the claimed that “Britons were believers of fuzzy faith” and that would be true of New Zealanders too. Sadly though, as Alister McGrath writes “A surprising number of people who think of themselves as Christians never get further than accepting the truth of Christianity.” The second part of the jigsaw is “belonging”. A true Christian is an essential part of a universal body of people known as the Church. The Bible knows nothing of people claiming to be Christian in isolation from others who make up a local church. Piece three is “behaving”. True Christians seek, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to model the One from whom they derive their name. When they fail they seek forgiveness and, with God’s help, endeavour to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. In other words they make it their aim to behave like Jesus. All of this, along with a look at objections that are raised, are dealt with clearly and in a way that makes sense. Obviously the book needs to be read to be fully appreciated. The fourth piece of the jigsaw is “baptism” as the public confession of the inner change that has taken place as a result of faith in Jesus Christ. It signifies cleansing from sin, death to an old way of life and the rising again to new life in Christ. Baptism is a step of obedience and a sign of submission. It requires humility and courage and is a sign of ones commitment to follow Jesus, as His disciple, for the remainder of this present life. The author wisely admits that it is possible to believe the truth of the gospel, belong to a local church fellowship, behave in a Christ like way and be baptised - and sadly still not be a true Christian. The final piece of the jigsaw is the need to be born again. This is what Jesus said was essential for entry into God’s kingdom. We have all sinned and are dead spiritually and, as a result, are cut off from God until we have been reborn spiritually. then and only then are we truly alive in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and fully assured of eternal salvation. “I’m a Christian, aren’t I?” by Dan Clark is published by Inter Varsity Press R.R.P. $29.99. (ISBN978-1844-74419-0 Published 2010 – 144 pages) Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “DO HARD THINGS” by Alex & Brett Harris. Multnomah $29.99 Teenagers have been much in the news of late. On the positive side a sixteen year old Australian girl sails round the world solo. On the negative after school ball booze parties are shut down by the police. A boy stabs his teacher another tragically dies after consuming a bottle of Vodka. Several others have been killed in car and motor cycle accidents and so it continues. It would seem that the description “teenager” was first coined in a Reader’s Digest issue in 1941. Prior to that you were either a child or an adult and the transition from one to the other resulted largely from what you did by way of employment and the acceptance of adult responsibility. Today people view the teen years through the modern lens of adolescence – a social category of age, and behaviour, that would have been completely foreign to men and women not too long ago according to teenage twins Alex and Brett Harris. Their book “DO HARD THINGS” is aimed at encouraging a teenage rebellion against the low expectations modern western society in general has for teenagers. It is assumed that they will be difficult years, part of growing up. It also details what many young people are already achieving. The twins write…”The term adolescence literally means ‘to grow up’. This is true in a biological sense as well as in other aspects of maturity. We have no problem with that, or even with the word itself. The problem we have is with the modern understanding of adolescence that allows, encourages, and even trains young people to remain childish for much longer than necessary. It holds us back from what we could do, from what God made us to do, and even from what we would want to do if we got out from under society’s low expectations.” (End of quote) Authors Alex and Brett quote examples of young people, past and present, who accomplished things that show very clearly that teenage years need not be the problem years they are for so many young people, their parents, and society at large. These two young men founded The Rebelution in August 2005 and today, at age nineteen, are among the most widely read teen writers on the web. They are frequent contributors to the webzone Boundless, and serve as the main speakers for the Rebelution Tour conferences around the world where young people are challenged to rebel against the low expectations society has of them by attempting hard and challenging things. 2. This book contends that there is a better way to use the teenage years by reclaiming them as the launching pad of life rather than as a few years to have fun, party, experiment and avoid responsibility. Attempting hard things outside our comfort zone is scary, but, as chapter five explains God works through our weaknesses and failures to accomplish His big plans. Also courage is not the absence of fear but rather acting in spite of the fear, attempting things that raise the bar and go beyond what is expected or required of us. Some things will be too hard for teenagers to accomplish on their own and there is great strength and encouragement in collaboration with others in the accomplishment of a common goal. Not everything attempted will succeed, and not everything pays off immediately, but that is no reason to hold back when a challenging opportunity, need or idea presents itself. Sometimes these hard things require going against the crowd. “Taking a Stand” is the subject of chapter nine. Chapter ten is a challenge to join the Rebelution by creating a counterculture from scratch, and a dash of salt. Every chapter is peppered with examples of young people who have done the very thing the authors are encouraging. This book is not just pie in the sky theory but a record of what can be done by teenagers when they rise above societies low expectations, step outside the box, and attempt things that stretch and challenge them. Chuck Norris writes in his foreword…”Today we live in a culture that promotes comfort, not challenges. Everything is about finding ways to escape hardship, avoid pain, and dodge duty. In the past, young people were expected to make significant contributions to society. Today, our culture expects very little from teens—not much more that staying in school and doing a few chores. A sad consequence of such low expectation is that life-changing lessons go unlearned.” This excellent book is a brave attempt to change that situation. “DO HARD THINGS” by Alex & Brett Harris is published by Multnomah R.R.P. Hardcover $29.99. (ISBN 978-1-68142-112-8 Published 2008) “MORE JESUS LESS RELIGION” by Stephen Arterburn & Jack Felton. Waterbrook Press. R.R.P. $14.99 We probably pay more attention to physical fitness than any previous generation. Health products galore and regular workouts at the gym are widely advertised and encouraged for our physical wellbeing. But how much time do we give to our spiritual fitness. Though obviously good even the highest degree of physical fitness will only last us for this life time. Spiritual fitness, on the other hand, is of great importance for the living of this life as well as preparing us for eternity. Today’s book is about having a healthy faith. Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton believe that there is a need for “MORE JESUS LESS RELIGION” that requires moving from rules to relationship where our faith is concerned. Their first book, “TOXIC FAITH”, was primarily about unhealthy beliefs and how to identify, and move beyond, the toxic faith systems that are sadly practiced and encouraged in some churches where religion has replaced a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Just as there are obviously some good and sound principles that relate to maintaining a healthy body so there is also with maintaining a healthy faith. But it may well be that we really do not know what constitutes a healthy faith. In sixteen short chapters Stephen and Jack detail what a healthy faith is and how it can be strengthened and developed. A healthy faith is based on reality. It sees and accepts things as they really are especially when it comes to knowing ourselves and our sin, failures and limitations and knowing the reality of the One true God who has none. The authors write…”A healthy faith accepts who we are and where we are rather than trying to conjure up some artificial image for people who are not comfortable accepting us as we are.” A healthy faith is individualized. “God is big enough to love us individually, call us individually, work in us individually, and walks with us through life individually, in spite of our character flaws, bad track record” and so on. A healthy faith is focused on the True God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the source, and solid ground, of our confidence and trust. He, the Lord, does not change, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. 2. A healthy faith is a trusting faith. It trusts the God in whom it is placed and acts accordingly. Such faith is not just claimed but humbly displayed in the quality of the life lived. A healthy faith is personal. We are all different and the way in which our faith will operate, and what it will accomplish, will vary from person to person. We are to be the unique person God has created us to be. A healthy faith is able to embrace human emotions. We worship a passionate God who has feelings. Jesus wept at the death of a friend, and was often moved with compassion. We too need to embrace our emotions and not try to squash them as if they were signs of weakness. A healthy faith is nondefensive and nonjudgemental. It isn’t touchy when it comes to defending our ego over some perceived slight or criticism. It is accepting of others as individuals who God loves however much we might disapprove of their way of life or religious views. A healthy faith always respects others and handle them with care and consideration. As the Scriptures say…”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.” A healthy faith is relationship orientated. It counts people as being of more importance than things. Within the family of God we are all forgiven, redeemed sinners so no one has any right to act big, nor act small, but all can act “medium” to quote the authors. A healthy faith is a growing faith that acts with more confidence in God today than this time a year or two back. It is also a faith that is free to serve God in the service of others in whatever way God has gifted us to do so. It is a faith that is at peace and is contented. Godliness with contentment is great gain the Scriptures tell us because a healthy faith trusts God for all things and in all situations. A healthy faith is a balanced faith that avoids extremes and finds its centre of gravity in God and no one or nothing else. It is a quality that is difficult to fake. And finally, and most important of all, a healthy faith is a loving faith. “MORE JESUS LESS RELIGION” by Stephen Arterburn & Jack Felton is published by Waterbrook Press R.R.P. $14.99. (ISBN 978-0-307-45882-7)
“PATCHED TOGETHER” by Brennan Manning. David C. Cook. $19.99 Brennan Manning is probably best known for his earlier book “The Ragamuffin Gospel”. He is an unusual author whose variety of occupations, over the past forty years, have all been opportunities to help others experience the reality of God’s love and grace in quite unique ways. He is a recovering alcoholic and former Franciscan priest who has taught college students and spoken to packed arenas on many occasions. Added to this he has lived in cave, laboured with the poor in and ministered to shrimpers in He claims that his latest book, “PATCHED TOGETHER” is a very special story to him because, in many ways, it is his story. Well known gospel singer Amy Grant writes in the foreword that she first heard him speak of his conversion at a music festival in She goes on to say that Brennan’s passion, disbelief, amazement, confusion, joy, and gratefulness for the love of God, and His gift of salvation, released us all to experience again the wonder of being loved ourselves. That really is what this book is all about. “PATCHED TOGETHER” combines two previous books, “The Boy Who Cried Abba” and “Journey of the Prodigal”, now both revised. Added is a completely new patch, in the form of a third chapter. These three ‘patches’ are titled Morning, The primary character in the story is Willie Juan who, at the start of the book is a young boy living with his grandmother in a village in . He was born of mixed race parentage and as a result had a quite unique skin colour. When he was just a toddler he, and his parents, were involved in a serious motor accident that killed them and badly crushed his right leg. Added to this some burning debris fell on his face and body that left many ugly scars. Because of his unusual looks, and damaged leg, he became something of an oddity in his community, the butt of cruel jokes and pranks and, as a result he became something of a loner. As a child he had a moving spiritual experience as he looked at, and gently touched, the face of the crucifix in the village church. In that experience he 2. came to realise that this was the “Man of Sorrows” of whom his grandmother had so often told him. “The longer he paused, the more he knew that this one loved him.” He was caught trying to give the “Man of Sorrows” a drink. After recounting, in a very appealing way, Willie’s childhood challenges and adventures, including a trip to the Cave of Great Darkness, and his meeting with the”Medicine Man”, “morning” moves to “noon”. His childhood experiences of the “Man of Sorrows” and the “Medicine Man” waned in Willie’s mind. He went through school without distinction though he studied hard. He tried sports but wasn’t coordinated. He even failed as an altar boy and then, “To cap it all off, one day his eyes started watering and they seemed to grow worse with each passing day.” What he was good at was whittling wood. Making carvings that seemed to come to life. He attended wood-crafting school and left town to find work. His skill soon attracted attention and a merchant volunteered to sell his work. Soon commissions rolled in along with thousands and thousands of dollars. The down side was that his eyes were growing worse. About this time he had a growing concern for the poor whose plight was all too obvious. To his amazement a pretty street girl turned out to be Ana, the only person from his childhood who had been kind to him. Now through changed circumstances she is in the big city living with an aunt, Isabel, in obvious poverty. Their relationship develops but Ana’s tragic death in a road accident sends Willie back to the “Man of Sorrows” in his grief. Among Ana’s few possessions was a trumpet and on it Willie’s name. He took it and poured out his grief as he put the trumpet to his lips, unleashed a torrent of notes and, without training, discovered a gift that soon brought him notoriety as a trumpet player…and so the story continues into the final segment, “Night”. As William Paul Young, the author of the popular book, “The Shack”, writes “The simplest of stories often penetrate the heart most deeply…like this one.” This is an unusual, but delightful story that reflects the heart of the author and his love for “Abba” whose grace and love have impacted his life so deeply. “PATCHED TOGETHER – A Story of My Story” by Brennan Manning is published by David C. Cook R.R.P. $19.99. (ISBN 978-1-4347-0047-6 Published 2010)
|