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EARLIER REVIEWS: Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” Please note: Prices may have changed since these reviews
[if gte mso 9]> [if gte mso 9]> [if gte mso 9]> [if gte mso 9]> [if gte mso 9]> Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 1ST JANUARY 2011
“CALLED TO CONQUER” by Derek Prince. Chosen. R.R.P. $22.99
A new year provides a fresh start. The activities of 2010 are behind us and 2011 stretches ahead of us. Will we continue with the same activities and interests or will we use the new year as an opportunity to leave some things behind so as to be able to attempt something new?
More importantly what has God in store for us? What would He have us do, that will bring glory to Him in 2011? What is His assignment for you and me in the months ahead?
Gathering together some more previously unpublished Derek Prince material Derek Prince Ministries International have produced yet another inspiring addition to the many book written by the late Derek Prince.
“CALLED TO CONQUER” is a call to discover the assignment God has for each one of us as it pertains to the Kingdom of Heaven.
In his foreword Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell writes…”I believe there are two great moments in a person’s life. The first is the moment you were born. The second is the moment you discovered why you were born. We were all born for a purpose,” he continues, “and it is our responsibility to discover that reason – the ‘why’, the Calling, of our lives.” (End of quote)
As you look ahead into the unknown of a new year do you know what it is that God would have you do for Him? It is probably true that many Christians do what seems most needed to be done without any real sense of what the Holy Spirit has gifted and called them to do.
The call of Jesus on our lives is an upward call, a call to rise above the mundane and ordinary, a call that should fill us with such passion that nothing else matters, nothing else being of greater importance.
But what exactly is our calling? That is the question Derek Prince answers in chapter two. Such a calling upon our lives is often missed because we are not diligent in seeking to know what it is.
As Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians…”Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2)
Chapter three contains seven steps to finding our place in the purposes of God. These involve presenting our body as a living sacrifice, being renewed in the way we think, discovering God’s will, being humble in accepting it, recognizing the measure of faith granted to us, understanding 2.
that that degree of faith fits the place God has for us and learning to recognize and exercise the gift, or gifts, the Holy Spirit has given us.
Chapter four takes up the subject of giftings. God is practical and would not expect of us that for which He has not provided the tools. The tools are the charismata and as Bob Mumford is quoted as saying, “Remember the gifts of the Spirit are tools, not toys.”
Whatever gifting God may have given us is not for selfish use but to build up the body of Christ as a whole. They need to be discovered, developed and used in the power of the Holy Spirit.
There are many different gifts and the specific ministry gifts are detailed and explained in chapter five. These are the “person” gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers as well as many others.
Chapter six deals with the subject of “witchcraft” as being the greatest obstacle to the fulfillment of God’s calling on our life. This might prove a controversial chapter for some people, it certainly gave me a lot of food for thought that I found quite challenging. This subject is carried over into chapter seven as being the greatest “The Enemy in the Church.”
Chapter eight opens with our Lord’s promise…”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) Derek makes the claim…”There is no substitute in the whole universe for the Holy Spirit. He is absolutely unique, and He can do what no other person and no other power can do.” (End of quote)
At a personal level the greatest obstacle to finding God’s will for our life is “self”. Our desire to do our own thing and follow the dictates of our “deadly lower nature” rather than live the ‘crucified’ life Christ calls us to embrace.
It is only as we allow Christ to free us that we can enter into the reality of the “New Self”. To do this, as chapter ten is headed, you need to…”Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
Chapter eleven has to do with “Completing Your Assignment”. That poses the questions, do you and I know what our calling is? And, are we committed to fulfilling that assignment in 2011?
“CALLED to CONQUER” by Derek Prince is published by “Chosen” a division of Baker Publishing Group. R.R.P. $22.99 (ISBN 978-0-8007-9495-8)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL. Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 8th January 2011
“CHOOSING TO SEE” by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn and “LIFE IS SO GOOD” by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman.
To say that the two books I have for you today are as different as “chalk and cheese” would be an understatement. The only things they have in common are that they are both autobiographies, both have a Christian foundation and both are set in the USA.
“CHOOSING to SEE” is the story of Mary Beth Chapman. Wife of singer, songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman and mother of six children. Her life is aptly described as “A Journey of Struggle and Hope”.
The other, “LIFE is SO GOOD”, is described as an “astonishing and unforgettable memoir” and this is no exaggeration.
Mary Beth Chapman admits that her life has not been how she planned it. She had her ideas but God’s were of quite a different order. In fact she had quite a struggle allowing God to write the story of her life.
Her father worked at International Harvester. Her mother was a stay at home mum who didn’t even have a driving license until Mary Beth got hers. Mary Beth describes herself as a “half empty glass” sort of person who married an always “half full glass”, always positive, sort of person.
They didn’t plan to start a family as quickly as they did but their dog ate her birth control pills. They had three children and then felt led of God to adopt three more. Orphan babies they went to China to bring home.
Her singer/songwriter husband, Steven Curtis Chapman, was very upbeat, had a crazy schedule and was away from home quite a lot. She describes her children as being “creatively rambunctious”.
But readers of her story soon discover that life is not always a bed of roses and the Chapman’s had their struggles, set backs and heartaches, including losing a 5 year old daughter in a car accident. As a result Mary Beth was forced to wrestle with some of life’s biggest questions.
Questions like “Where is God when things fall apart?” Why does God allow terrible things to happen?” and “How can I survive hard times. Questions that maybe you can relate to!
This is a highly emotion book and a bit “over the top”, at least I found it to be so, but it’s a good read for all that and is full of interest and hope. 2.
By way of a contrast, George Dawson, born in 1898, was the eldest son in a large Negro family. His grandparents had been slaves. He recounts that his father was hard working and eked out a living from the far from fertile small holding allocated to him, by the government, in Texas
Despite setbacks and hardship he always believed in seeing the richness in life and trained his children to do the same. He had a simple Christian faith and would say…”life is so good – and I do believe it’s getting better.”
As a boy, George had to work all hours to help support the family and so he was never able to attend school. Even so he led a full and interesting life and was hard working, conscientious and honest in his dealings.
Whereas Mary Beth lived in much the same world as you and I do George grew up in a very different setting, as a coloured American during the early twentieth century. This makes for some absorbing reading.
He left home in Texas in his early twenties and travelled by train as far a field as Mexico and Canada getting work where he could and then moving on. He writes in detail of his adventures, experiences and companions.
In all of this he learnt to survive, “we make our own way” he says. “Trouble is out there, but a person can leave it alone and just do the right thing. Then if trouble still finds you, you’ve done the best you can.”
At ninety eight George decided to enroll in a literacy course and learn to read, and became a celebrated student. His claims…”Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day. You just never know.”
This is a book full of home spun wisdom about an attitude to life that can meet every situation, good or bad, and use it as a learning experience. We can all learn from George’s simple trust in God and His goodness.
George reflects on the philosophy he learned from his father and offers valuable lessons in living, family life, work and much more, as well as presenting a first hand view of America during the twentieth century.
“CHOOSING TO SEE” by Mary Beth Chapman is published by Revell R.R.P. $27.99 “LIFE IS SO GOOD” by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman is published by Harper Collins. R.R.P. $24.99
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL. Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 15th January 2011
“LIFE IS SO GOOD” by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman. A Second Look at this quite remarkable story. Harper Collins R.R.P. $24.99
Last week I reviewed the book “LIFE IS SO GOOD”. Our pastor, Phil King, quoted from this book in a sermon. As always, looking for books to review, I went to the local Public Library and borrowed a copy.
I was so impressed with this book that I thought it worth a second look and I even bought my own copy. I don’t often do that I can assure you.
George Dawson became something of a celebrity when it became known that he had joined a literacy class at a nearby school. He was ninety eight and attended every school weekday day for three years.
When this came to the notice of Richard Glaubman, an elementary school teacher in Washington State he decided it was worth following up. He visited George on a regular basis and became a close friend and confidant.
Over time George shared his story and Richard recorded it and put it into book form for publication in 2000. Firstly by Random House and then by Harper Collins.
As the eldest in a large Negro family he was expected to work on the family farm from a very early age. Back, in the early nineteen hundreds, the segregation of whites and blacks was rigidly enforced. The Klan were active and it was dangerous for any black they took a dislike to.
As a young boy he saw seventeen year old Pete, a farm worker, lynched, accused of getting a white girl pregnant, when really it was the girl’s boyfriend. George learnt early in life to know his place and to avoid trouble at all costs.
When things were quiet on his parents farm he would sent to work elsewhere to bring in just a little extra money. He worked, off and on, for seven decades. Nothing was too hard or too menial for him.
Farm work of any kind, breaking horses, on one occasion showing up a group of white cowboys who had all failed to reign in a very wild horse. He won himself $50 for that which didn’t make him very popular with the crowd of mainly white spectators and the men who had been made to look silly.
He worked on the ever expanding railways, built levees on the Mississippi, worked in a saw mill and for twenty five years tended, repaired and ran the boilers in a milk factory. Even though he couldn’t read he had a very good memory, learnt quickly and, with very little training, was able to work things out and be more effective than people who had had years of training. 2.
He was forced to retire from that job at sixty five but he didn’t stop working and was in great demand when wealthy white folk needed a reliable worker to do gardening and other odd jobs.
Even though he knew, and accepted his place in society, he still had his pride. On one occasion, while working in the garden of a wealthy white lady, she brought out his lunch, along with her dogs lunch, placed theirs on the ground and his on a shelf nearby.
Normally he would have been invited into the kitchen, via the back door, to eat his food. He was very hungry but refused to eat, as a matter of principle, and when the lady showed surprise that he had not eaten his lunch he told her that he was a human and didn’t eat his food with the dogs. She was angry and he was never asked to work at her place again.
He buried four wives and said, without any sign of conceit, that even in his nineties there were several ladies who would like to fill that roll as he was known to be a kind and considerate husband.
When asked how he learned to raise his children he said he simply did what his parents had done for him, and that had always OK. He didn’t need no books by any Doctor Spock, he couldn’t have read them anyway!
His advise, contained in detail in this book, is worth the price of the book many times over. When he celebrated his hundredth birthday the story of his remarkable life became national news and he received hundreds of letters of congratulations along with invitations to speak to various groups.
He was given a guided tour of the NASA facilities and, on another occasion, was seated and entertained in a corporate box at an important Base Ball Game. He lived very simply, on a limited income.
When he retired from the milk factory he was offered a lump sum or a pension. He took the lump sum but, looking back, said that had he known he was going to live so long he would have gone for the pension!
Asked if he had any regrets the only one he could think of was have thrown a stone at an obstinate mule when he was a boy and blinding it in one eye. He regretted having done that and never ever hit an animal again.
I could go on for another session but I won’t…”LIFE IS SO GOOD” by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman was published by Harper Collins in 2000, R.R.P. $24.99. (ISBN 0-7322-6511-8) 261 pages.
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL. Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 22nd January 2011
“AMISH GRACE” by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher. Published by John Wiley & Sons R.R.P. $27.99.
On the morning of the 2nd of October 2006 thirty two year old Charles Carl Roberts parked his eighteen-wheel milk truck in the parking lot of the Nickel Mines Auction, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
His working day had started at 6pm the previous evening when he began his round of the Amish and English farms. After pumping the milk from the stainless steel tank at each farm into his truck he hauled his load back to the regional processing plant. By 3am his work was done and he headed home to catch some sleep at his home in Georgetown, Lancaster County.
That same morning, twenty-six children, from ten different homes, aged between six and thirteen, were making their way to the West Nickel Mines School. Emma, their teacher, knew her students and their families well.
The day started as it usually did. Being an Amish school there were devotions, Bible readings, prayers and singing. Then it was into the lessons for the day.
Down the road in Georgetown Charles Roberts ate his breakfast with his wife Amy. He was something of a loner and was a deeply troubled man, filled with resentment and anger over the death of his little daughter some years before.
That morning he was intent on getting his revenge. With several guns, 600 rounds of ammunition, along with a range of other things he thought he would need, he headed for the West Nickel Mines School.
He entered the one room school and, waving his gun ordered everyone to lie face down on the floor. What followed is recounted in detail in the book, “Amish Grace – How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy”.
Roberts killed five girls that morning and seriously wounded five others before shooting himself. It was a tragedy that made headline news worldwide but, what soon amazed the world at large, was the readiness of the Amish community to forgive Roberts and extend love, comfort and forgiveness to his wife and family.
The media interest was enormous and as the story was reported on TV, in newspapers and various other publications questions were raised as to the nature of the forgiveness so readily extended by the Amish community.
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Donald Kraybill, Steven Nolt and David Weaver-Zercher headed for Nickel Mines to research the place and nature of forgiveness, as practiced by the Amish community, so devastated by the killing and wounding of their children.
Those of the Amish faith trace their origins back to the Anabaptists of the early sixteenth century. Many of whom died as martyrs because of their convictions regarding the true nature and practice of baptism.
As a result of persecution many of them made their way to America where they established communities that sought to remain true to the teaching of Jesus and the Bible.
They lived a simple lifestyle that rejected such things as owning motor vehicles, televisions and so on. This book is a comprehensive look at how forgiveness could transcend the tragedy that hit such a peaceful community on that fateful Monday morning in 2006.
The authors interviewed leaders of the Amish communities, parents of the children killed and many others in their attempt to discover how it was that they could forgive as they did.
Forgiveness is at the very heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. To be an unforgiving Christian is really a contradiction. Central to the Lord’s prayer is the request for God to “Forgive us our debts as we have also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
This is the only clause in the Lord’s Prayer that is expanded, by way of explanation, in verses 14 and 15 making our willingness to forgive others a condition for God forgiving us.
This book is divided into three parts. Part One dealing with the shooting, the aftermath, surprise and reactions. Part Two looks at four aspects of forgiveness: as a habit, its roots, spirituality and practice.
Part Three examines the forgiveness that took place at Nickel Mines, the Amish practice of “Shunning” those who refuse to repent of wrongdoing, grief, providence and justice as it relates to forgiveness and how the example of Amish grace can speak powerfully to the rest of us.
“AMISH GRACE” by Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher was published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons. R.R.P. $27.99 (ISBN 978-0-470-34404-0)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL. Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 29th January 2011
“Unconditional? The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness” by Brian Zahnd. Published by Charisma House. R.R.P. $26.99.
“Unconditional? The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness” by Brian Zahnd is an outstanding book about the nature and practice of forgiveness as modeled so sacrificially by the Lord Jesus Himself.
Echoing down to us from the cross are the words of Jesus…”Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
We have all sinned, fallen short of God’s requirements, and therefore we all stand in need of forgiveness. But to be forgiven God requires of us that we be forgiving of others as stated in the Lord’s Prayer.
But what really is forgiveness and how is it extended? What is accomplished when we extend forgiveness and how does it really work at a human level as well as in our relationship with God?
The other side of the coin is to ask what is forgiveness not? These and many other questions are answered in Brian Zahnd’s exceptional book. In chapter one he makes the claim…”It should be obvious from an honest reading of the Gospels that Jesus expected his disciples to master the lessons he taught and actually live a life centred on love and forgiveness.”
For many people such an expectation is just not practical but for the Christian the readiness to forgive is not an option. If God requires it of us then, with His help, it must be possible though not always easy. Brian Zahnd gives some telling examples of forgiveness being extended and of one instance when the person concerned was not able to forgive.
As agents of reconciliation “Christ’s followers are called to radical forgiveness, unreasonable, reckless, endless and seemingly impossible forgiveness”. The possibility of forgiveness is the subject of chapter two.
Chapter three points readers to the example of Christ. As His followers we are to imitate Him especially when injustice in involved. “Allowing forgiveness to purge the unforgiveness in our hearts is what enables us to move beyond injustice and not be chained to it for life.” (Page 64)
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To forgive is to give up the right to revenge, leaving that to God, and it replaces negative feelings toward the wrongdoer with love and generosity. For the forgiver this can bring emotional healing and a reducing of anger, depression, anxiety, fear bitterness and resentment.
So important is the need to forgive that, as chapter four states, there is no future without it. “Without forgiveness,” the author claims, “the Bible doesn’t get beyond Genesis. Without forgiveness there really is no future.”
Chapter five draws upon the example of Amish grace demonstrated when five of their children were shot in their classroom by an angry gunman seeking revenge for the death of his own daughter. An example of radical forgiveness that could only be the result of love and grace. Such “Radical forgiveness is what it means to take up the cross and follow Jesus.”
Chapter six takes up the subject of justice as it relates to forgiveness. Forgiveness does not extend pardon where natural justice requires that the person be subject to the laws of the land. Had Roberts, the gunman who had killed the five Amish children mentioned in chapter five, lived he would have had to face criminal charges even though he had been forgiven by those he had hurt so badly.
When we are wronged it is natural to feel anger and hostility toward the one who has wronged us. Chapter seven deals with the killing of such hostility. “Make no mistake about it” to quote Brian Zahnd again, “what Jesus was teaching was new, radical, utterly unprecedented. Jesus was teaching a kind of love that no one before had dared to imagine---love of enemy.”
Chapter eight gets down to the nitty gritty of what it really means to follow Christ and truly be His disciple. There is a golden rule of love to be followed and a narrow gate to be entered through.
It is claimed that “We have taken a crowbar to the Golden Rule and the narrow gate and tried to pry them apart as if they had nothing to do with one another. This is scandalous!” Why this is so is challengingly explained.
And so this book continues, I wish I had more time to do it justice. This is a book that needs to be read by every Christian - it is that important.
“Unconditional? The Call of Jesus to RADICAL FORGIVENESS” by pastor Brian Zahnd is published by Charisma House R.R.P. $26.99.
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
“BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 3rd July 2010
“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.
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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 4:12 &13 clearly shows that they were given to the’ body’, ’to prepare God’s people for works of service.’”
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” – 10th July 2010
“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 New Zealand Airport for overseas one must have ones Passport ready to hand. And yet I have heard of people either forgetting their Passport or presenting one that is out of date.
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” – 17th July 2010
“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.
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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) . [if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} [if gte mso 10]> Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 24th July 2010
“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.
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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) [if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} [if gte mso 10]> Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 31ST July 2010
“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 Alabama and I’m sure has done many other things as well.
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 Boston many years ago. She writes…”Brennan’s response to the love of God was so honest. He came up from his knees and ran outside under the stars, shaking his fist and screaming up to heaven: ‘You are crazy…crazy to love me like that.’”
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, Noon and Night.
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
“50 People every Christian Should Know” by Warren W. Wiersbe. Of all the different kinds of books there are to be read none, in my opinion, can compare with a good biography. The Bible contains many such stories of men and women who in ancient times proved their faith in God by the lives they lived and the things they accomplished. The writer of the book of Hebrews, toward the end of the New Testament, refers to a number of these in the eleventh chapter. But, since that was penned, there have been many other great men and women of faith whose stories are usually told in books of two hundred or more pages. Today’s book, by Warren W. Wiersbe, provides a brief introduction to fifty such people who lived between 1499 and 1971. Most of these short chapters first appeared as magazine articles, magazines that sadly are no longer in publication. This book combines Wiersbe’s “Living with the Giants, published in 1993 and “Victorious Christians You Should Know”. To these have been added a new preface and two new biographies. It is a real blessing to now have this new, single volume edition, of nearly four hundred pages available for us to learn from, and be encouraged by. As the author writes in his preface…”The past is not an anchor to drag us back but a rudder to help us into the future. I have been helped greatly in my own life and ministry,” he continues, “by reading hundreds of biographies, autobiographies, and histories that have enabled me to write these chapters, and I trust you will benefit from reading them.” (End of quote) What is provided is but an overview of the lives of these people, with suggestions as to where further information can be gathered, by those wanting to go more in depth and learn more about those whose lives are introduced in this book. The names of many of those included will be familiar to you. Matthew Henry, whose commentary on the Bible is still being used. Charles H. Spurgeon, the great 2. D.L Moody the famous evangelist. Fanny Crosby, the blind hymn writer who lived into her nineties. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission now known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship or simply OMF. F.B. Meyer, pastor and evangelist who wrote…”I caught a glimpse of a wider, larger life, in which denominationalism could have no place, and in which there was but one standard by which to measure men, namely their devotion to, and knowledge of, the Son of God.” R.A. Torrey whose books “What the Bible Teaches” and “How to Work for Christ” have been a blessing to me and still have a valued place on my bookshelf. G. Campbell Morgan was a thorn in my flesh as a teenager as the uncle I worked for incessantly quoted him as we drove to, and from, Covent Garden Market in Amy Carmichael who spent nearly sixty years on the mission field. She never once came home to report to her board, or to the people who supported her. She never asked for financial support, yet saw her every need met right on time as she looked to the Lord as her provider. Frank W. Boreham was, for a time, the Baptist minister in Mosgiel. His writings were a favourite of another uncle of mine. When he died his wife, my aunt, gave me several of his Frank Boreham collection of books. I still have them on my book shelves. Oswald Chambers is best known for his devotional book “My Utmost for His Highest.” A friend once said of him that he was “the apostle of the haphazard. You will find out why when you read his biography. A.W. Tozer pastored a church in W.E. Sangster ministered to many in Just a few of those written about in “50 People Every Chritian Should Know” by Warren W. Wiersbe published by Baker Books R.R.P. $37.99. (ISBN 978-0-8010-7194-2 Published in 2009 Trade Paperback 398 pages)
“The Greatest Scientist Alive” by Kees van den Bosch and “Slaughter of the Dissidents” by Dr. Jerry Bergman. (Leafcutter Press) The recent visit to New Zealand of Richard Dawkins, and the large attendance at his public meetings, along with the press and media coverage of his visit and message, once again highlighted the clash between Darwin supporting evolutionists on one hand, and the clear teaching of Scripture on the other, as to creation, by an Almighty God, being the means by which our world and the universe came into being. Some months back Kees van den Bosch, a retired marine engineer from As Jeremy Theakston writes in the foreword…”Kees passionately desires that people should realise that there is no conflict between religion and science, that the world is God’s magnificent creation, and that we are in danger of damaging that creation by genetic modification.” What Kees does in his book “The Greatest Scientist Alive” is discuss with his readers ten radically new scientific theories in the field of genetics that are firmly grounded in the Bible. At the same time he also demonstrates the foundational weaknesses of the evolutionary theory and asserts that everything we see in the world around us was designed by God Himself. He alone is the One who deserves the credit for all that is good and beautiful in the world around us. Obviously Richard Dawkins and many others who espouse his viewpoint obviously don’t want God to be honoured in that way. The easy way out for them is to deny the very existence of God. Then, with no God to worry about, evolution is the only theory left that they think explains the origin and existence of life on planet earth. This is exactly what Paul wrote about in his letter to the Roman Christians…”From the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes, that is his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) 2. People who deny creation, and even the very existence of God, will obviously be opposed to those who put their faith in what God has revealed in His Word, the Bible. Belief in the in the truth of the early chapters of Genesis is foundational to all that follows in the Scriptures. Especially with regard sin, salvation and eternal life. This opposition is becoming increasingly evident as my second book illustrates. “The Slaughter of the Dissidents” by Dr. Jerry Bergman details what is already happening in the to many of those in the fields of science and education, who are known to be This is a large book,448 pages in fact, sent to me by Creation Ministries, that recounts how many able, and well qualified, Christian scientists have been denied the credit they deserve, and have, in some cases, lost their positions, or been denied the promotion due to them. Henry Morris, the founder of the Institute for Creation Research, writes…”Dr. Bergman, as in all his writings, has abundantly documented his case. He has proved beyond question that true Christianity in general, and supernatural creation in particular, are under nationwide attack by our leading educators, our news media, our courts and practically our whole intellectual establishment. All Christians, and conservative non-Christians as well, need to become aware of this situation and would be well advised to read this book.” (End of quote) I realise that this book is written from an American perspective but, as we in New Zealand seem to import most of what is going on in other parts of the Western world, we cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening there. There are just too many genuine examples documented in this book, of how well qualified people have been discriminated against and penalized for holding views that question Darwinism and evolution, for this to just be the phobia of someone with an axe to grind. “The Greatest Scientist Alive” by Kees van den Bosch is published by the author and “The Slaughter of the Dissidents” by Dr. Jerry Bergman is published by Leafcutter Press R.R.P. $45.00. (ISBN 978-0-9818734-0-4)
“ According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary the word “vintage” is used mainly with regard to grapes and wine-making - with reference to wine of especially high quality from a past season. Of course the word is also used of motor cars of a certain age and possibly other things too. A few weeks back I reviewed a book entitled “Vintage Jesus” by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. Since then I have received another by the same authors entitled “ In his preface Mark Driscoll writes…”This book is about the He continues…”Jesus died and rose again to reconcile sinners to God as Christians and to one another as the church. Jesus is the head or preeminent authority over the church. Jesus is the apostle who plants the church. Jesus is the leader who builds the church. Jesus is the senior pastor and Chief Shepherd who rules the church. It is ultimately Jesus who closes churches down when they have become faithless or fruitless.” On the subject of the Church this book is one of the best I have read to date. It gives a wise and balanced overview of the church that the Lord Jesus brought into being through his death and resurrection. It details its purpose, expected mode of existence, and how it should operate, according to what the Bible teaches. In a most interesting and readable way Mark Driscoll, writing as he does from a wealth of personal experience as the preaching/teaching pastor of a large church in Seattle, answers twelve important questions that relate to the church that, as I have already said, Jesus himself founded. The true Church is made up of blood bought disciples of Jesus so chapter one is spot on in answering the question “What is the Christian Life?” To quote Paul in his letter to the Colossian church, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6) 2. The Christian life is a walk of faith. Or, as someone else has said, a long obedience in the same direction. That direction being heavenward in the company of Jesus and our fellow Christians. The logical question that follows is “What is a Christian Church?” For many people a Christian Church is simply a building where people meet to worship God. Mark Driscoll believes that if you asked that question in some churches you would get either blank stares or a series of conflicting definitions. This second chapter answers that question from both an historic perspective as well as a biblical one. The third question has to do with the all important subject of leadership in the local church. The question being…”Who is Supposed to Lead a Church?” One of the things most commonly associated with going to church is preaching – which, sadly, for many people has negative connotations. Chapter four asks the question…”Why is Preaching Important?” As someone who is called upon to preach on a fairly regular basis I found this chapter particularly encouraging. To hurry on then the remaining questions answered are…”What are Baptism and Communion?” “How can a Church be unified?” “What is Church Discipline?” “How is Love Expressed in a Church?” “What is a The final two chapters have to do with how technology can best be used in the church and how the church can help transform the world. This is a book of “Timeless Truths and Timely Methods” to quote its subtitle. As one pastor has written…it is a…”biblically sound, tartly relevant, and crisply practical guide to understanding the church.” A book that every church leader would benefit from reading…but not just them I would add! “LORD, I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY” by Leslie Vernick. Harvest House. What is it that is most likely to make people happy? Surveys have shown that it is not more money, nicer home, a new car, an overseas holiday, dinner at a flash restaurant, romance, or any of many other such things. All of these may produce a flash of happiness but it doesn’t last, they don’t produce lasting happiness. When happiness is looked for in those things and ways there is the continuing hunger for more to feed the need - and that is not sustainable. King Solomon had it all freely available to him but, as he writes in the book of Ecclesiastes, “I have seen all things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” In the next chapter he writes…”A man can do nothing better that to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see from the hand of God, for without him who can eat and find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.” Today’s book…”LORD, I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY” by Leslie Vernick echoes the cry of many people today. There is a lot of unhappiness in our world and, although many people would blame their circumstances for this, circumstances are not usually the root cause of unhappiness. Leslie Vernick is a licensed clinical social worker with a private counseling practice. She writes from personal experience as well as the experience gained over the years as she has counseled those who have come to her for help. Leslie believes that God has designed us for happiness and opens her book by saying…”It’s true. God wants us to feel hope, joy, love, and peace. These are wonderful feelings, not just theological concepts. We were created to live in faith and love, not fear and bondage. God designed our body, our brain, our emotions, and our spirit to thrive when we live in sync with him and his created purpose.” How this can come about is the theme of this book. It is divided into three parts. “Understanding Our Unhappiness”. “Moving Beyond Our Unhappiness” and “Practicing Happiness”. 2. Chapter One, “Stories and Scripts”, draws on the experiences of Janet, probably not her proper name, who came to Leslie with her latest litany of what was wrong in her life that were causing her unhappiness. In chapter two, “Elephants Out of Control” illustrates how, when self will over rides what we know to be right, dangers loom. This chapter explains how long established thought patterns, habits of worry, comparing, grumbling and complaining, being self-absorbed and self-centred are all the enemies of happiness. It is all too easy to get stuck in a pit, and that is the title of chapter three. Such pits are hard to get out of, to do so we need to understand the toxic emotions and negative thoughts that are keeping us there. Facing up to the problems, addressing them and exercising our will power are all steps in the right direction. Moving into part two begins with a new way of thinking that leads us to fall in love with the God who loves us, and is the source of all true happiness and whose will is that you and I become the best we possibly can be. Irrespective of circumstances, beautiful people, living for His glory. This of course requires training and discipline, self-denial and a new and positive way of thinking. This is the only route to true, lasting happiness. There is no easy road. The butterfly can only reach its potential when it has struggled out of its chrysalis. The happy life is an intentional life and this book is, as Dr. Larry Crabb says a “Practical help on the road to spiritual maturity.” Jan Silvanious adds…”Leslie Vernick offers hope, help, and messages of encouragement…in this delightful book. I love it. It makes me happy.” The illustrations maintain the readers interest, its biblical base gives it depth and credibility and the practical common sense that permeates each page makes it a down to earth resource that any reader would benefit from.
“ After many years of slavery in , when Caleb and Joshua came back from spying out the land that God had promised to , they were full of enthusiasm about the land they had just inspected. But not so the other ten spies. Though they readily admitted that the fruit there was great they were dismayed at the size of the people who were its current inhabitants. They reported…”All the people we saw there are of great size…we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes when we looked at them.” (Numbers 13:32-33) After all that God had done to bring them out of slavery in , the plagues, crossing the Steve Farrar uses the experiences of Caleb and Joshua as the background for his book “BATTLE READY”, another in the “Bold men for God” series. As a result of their unwillingness to trust God all the adults, except Caleb and Joshua, died and were buried in the wilderness as, for forty years or so, the whole nation of Israel wandered until the next generation were willing to trust God and, under Joshua’s leadership, entered the land promised to them. Sadly, all too often, this scenario is replicated spiritually among Christians in our day. Those, who having come to faith, are willing to trust God and are prepared to serve Him whatever that may involve. While others grasp salvation but, through lack of faith, remain in a spiritual wilderness for the rest of their lives. Instead of entering into all the blessings God has for them they wonder spiritually through life in a most unfulfilling sort of way. Steve Farrar believes that Christians need to be strong and of good courage, as Joshua was told to be, in these troubled times in which we live. The person who, like Caleb and Joshua, desires to be used by God needs to stand tall in the face of the giants we face in our day, striving to honour God, trusting Him when all seems hopeless from a human perspective, confident in God’s unfailing provision. There is just so much that is positive and stimulating in this book that I am at a loss to know how to do justice to it in just a few brief minutes. The author states that we live in difficult times. He is writing or course from an American perspective but what he writes is to a degree reflected here in . After years of prosperity, near full employment and a high standard of living, an increasing number of people are feeling the pinch. How we cope with this as Jesus people is the measure of our willingness to trust God in hard times, believing that He is still in control. We witness to this by our example as we tackle the giants we face in life. Steve Farrar identifies many of these as his book progresses. The first two are the giants of intimidation and inadequacy. In the secular and increasingly pagan society in which we live it is easy to be intimidated by those who oppose what we hold dear and feel inadequate to defend the truths that form the basis of our faith. Steve writes…”We fight twenty-first-century giants, a diverse tribe of leering, mocking adversaries that threaten our peace, well-being, and very existence. There are giant diseases, disappointments, depressions, addictions, financial reversals, career setbacks, family breakdowns and personal failures.” (End of Quote) These are not all of them by any means and Steve details others as the book progresses. While these giants may loom large and overpowering Caleb and Joshua set us an example by not looking at the giants, and the threat they pose, but to the God who is more powerful than all these giants put together. The questions are: Do we really believe that? And secondly are we willing to stake our life on it whatever” giants” may cross our path? This book is kept alive with many illustrations and a wide range of quotations that add weight to what he is writing. One such is from Dr. Martyn Lloyd- Jones…”There is no better way of giving proof of the truth of the gospel than that we should ‘be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might’, than that we should triumph and prevail.” “ To live aright is difficult, and when we see someone who is succeeding, someone who can stand against the enticements and insinuations of evil, someone who is not carried away off their feet by the popular thing, someone who remains steadfastly for the truth and for everything that is worthy, we are greatly encouraged. It undoubtedly has a great effect on those who are looking on.”
“INGA - MY STORY” by Inga Tuigamala with Myan Subrayan. Penguin. It’s interesting how memories are triggered. An incident long forgotten brought to mind by something read in a book, seen on T.V. or the comment of a friend. Or maybe it was the result of a place revisited, a photograph and so on. Today’s book triggered a memory for me - although some of the details are a bit rusty. It was either a Friday evening or a Saturday morning. I was behind the counter in the Scripture Union Bookshop in Though I am not much of a This memory was revived when John Lindsay, who records, and prepares, these programmes for broadcasting, said that he had been reading Inga the Winger’s autobiography “INGA – MY STORY” now available at Christian, as well as other leading bookshops such as Whitcoull’s and Borders. I quickly secured a copy and devoured it in a matter of a few hours. It really is a great read, especially for sport lovers, but certainly not just for them. This is much more than a sports biography because there is more behind story of the ‘gentle giant’ of New Zealand Rugby than meets the eye. In a way it is rather like a “This is Your Life” on T.V. with Inga’s personal memories interspersed with comments and memories from other people such as Murray Deaker, Former All Black coach Laurie Mains, Kevin Roberts, Michael Jones and many others. There is also a chapter by his wife Daphne. Inga’s family moved to from Inga’s Rugby Union days were before it became a professional sport and as a result, when he married and started a family, things were pretty tight financially. This meant that they were forced to live in a concrete slab garage out the back his mother’s house. Something of a contrast to the comparative luxury he enjoyed when away traveling with the All Blacks. 2. Added to this was the tension of being away from home so much as an All Black with long overseas trips that led to his three year old son asking his mother “is my daddy dead.” Inga’s previous biography was published in 1993 and after a brief recap this new one picks up the story from there. There is mention of his early days and of his time as an All Black and the tours undertaken to Inga writes…”Sixteen years of my life have passed since those ‘glory’ days. This is my opportunity to share with you what has happened between then and now. Hopefully, you will come to see that there is more to Inga Tuigamala than my former accomplishments on the sports field, while at the same time learn the answers to some of the following questions.” (End of quote) These questions include his reasons for leaving the All Blacks for a lucrative contract playing Rugby League for His shift to Rugby League was quite daunting on top of having to settle in a new country with his wife and family. The physical fitness required for the almost non stop League play was of a higher standard than was then required for He had to work hard on his fitness and the new code he was adapting to. The Tuigamala’s were made very welcome in the They were soon in touch with a number of other Samoans. His and Daphne’s was popular open home. Another question often asked of him was why did he return to when he had so much going for him in Inga is a committed Christian whose faith comes through in this biography in a quiet, but powerful, way. He has matured into an inspirational community leader among his own people and beyond. Although what is written contains much in praise of Inga Tuigamala he is very honest in admitting that he has made his mistakes. This is book full human interest, home spun wisdom, spiritual insights, sporting memories, and motivational encouragement for all who take time to read it. “INGA – MY STORY” by Inga Tuigamal with Myan Subrayan is published by Penguin Books R.R.P. $39.99. (ISBN 978-0-14-320355-1 Published 2009) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the
“STAND – A Call for the Endurance of the Saints” 13th General Editors John Piper & Justin Taylor. (Crossway) In our instant society the subject of perseverance is not one that we hear much about but, for Christians, it is a very important part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ and a child of God. It was the Lord Jesus who said that it was those who stood firm to the end who would be saved. (Mark The theologian John Murray proposed this definition of what it means to persevere: “Perseverance means the engagement of our persons in the most intense and concentrated devotion to those means which God has ordained for the achievement of his saving purpose.” Paul’s definition is probably easier to grasp, he wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12b/13) The writer of Hebrews pictured the Christian life as a race that must be run with perseverance with our eyes fixed on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1b/2a) The importance in any race is to finish it, and to finish it strongly, the same is true of the Christian life. Today’s book, “STAND – A Call for the Endurance of the Saints” is a collection of writings put together by General Editors John Piper and Justin Taylor. In his introduction Justin Taylor quotes John Piper who testified to his father’s unwavering faith, even in his closing years. In 2004 his father wrote…”I’ll soon be 86 but I feel strong and my health is good. God has been exceedingly gracious and I am most unworthy of His matchless grace and patience. The Lord is more precious to me the older I get.” The purpose of this book is to encourage and equip all who read it to be able to truthfully say those words, “The Lord is more precious to me the older I get”. Jerry Bridges, well known writer and conference speaker, outlines four essentials for finishing well. Firstly a daily time of focused communion with God. Secondly a daily appropriation of the Gospel. Thirdly a daily commitment to live 2. as a daily sacrifice to God and finally a firm belief in the Sovereignty and love of God. John Piper explains some principles for getting old to the glory of God which means “getting old in a way that makes God look glorious. Living and dying in a way that shows God to be the all-satisfying Treasure that he is.” Such a process cannot be left until we start to draw National Super. Like any race finishing well requires a lot of preparation and self discipline along with running the race in a planned and committed way. John MacArthur outlines the certainties that drive an enduring ministry. For him this has been in a life time of pastoral ministry that has seen many challenges. But the principles he explains are true for all of us if we are to run the race to its conclusion. Randy Alcorn is convinced that it is the sum total of all the daily decisions that we make, wise or otherwise, that determines how well we run the race. There is the need for courage in the cause of Christ and the commitment to live a life that will involve sacrifice and endurance. Helen Roseveare refers to the example of Caleb about whom the Scriptures record five times that he “wholly followed” the Lord. He was 85 when he reminded Joshua of the promise of Moses to “give him this mountain.” Helen goes on to provide other examples of people who, in a variety of circumstances, endured to the end. One such was Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, who was eighty six years old when he refused to recant his faith in Christ and was burned at the stake in 156 A.D. The final two chapters are in the form of interviews conducted by Justin Taylor. Firstly with Randy Alcorn, Jerry Bridges, John Piper and Helen Roseveare and then another with John Piper and John MacArthur. While the world we live in would tell us that to better our self and get more pleasure out of life we need to “Move on” the Bible, as God’s Word, holds up a different standard that, while difficult and demanding, leads to deep satisfaction and a greater reward than any this world can offer: endurance – a “hold the course” perseverance that leads to eternal life. “STAND – A Call for the Endurance of the Saints” co edited by John Piper & Justin Taylor is published by Crossway R.R.P. $29.99 (ISBN 978-1-4335-0114-2) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the
“The chocolate Seller on Broadway and his kids” by Chris Grantham. Published by The Cocoa Bean Press. “From my window up there,’ began the woman in an accusatory tone, “ I’ve been watching this poor guy sitting out there Saturday in, Saturday out, often in the cold, just dumped there, It’s shameful, I tell you, shameful.” “Mark actually likes being here, doing this,” his father explained to the irate woman. “he’s doing what he can to help others.” Yes, Mark Grantham was doing what he could for others, those he considered less fortunate than himself. One would have thought this was obvious but obviously to some it was not. Mark has been on the television several times and has featured in World Vision promotional material. For some twenty years now Mark has sold chocolate, firstly in Cuba Mall in His humbling, and yet invigorating, story is told by his father Chris Grantham in his book…”The chocolate Seller on Broadway and his kids.” Mark was born on Mentally he seemed to be fine but physically his growth and progress gave cause for concern. Chris recounts in some detail Mark’s early years, his struggles at school and his need to be in a wheel chair. In 1984 there was a Labour Government move to mainstream children like Mark but even though this was government policy there were still hurdles to be overcome. Life was not easy for parents with such a child who was dearly loved, had a sparkling personality and obviously had potential that needed room and opportunity to develop. In spite of his severe limitation Mark has done some amazing things as this book recounts in fascinating detail. He has met many interesting people, some on a regular basis over a cup of coffee. Mark has had his accidents, been under the knife for a surgical a procedures and hastraveled overseas to 2. These and other journeys are described in detail as are the difficulties, frustrations, along with the co-operation required from airlines, hotels and other people involved in raising financial support to make such trips possible. One of the concerns that I had in reading this book was the degree to which Chris and Jocelyn had to fight for the education, medical help and financial benefits that were their right in the raising, and care, of a son who, though very limited in what he could do physically was none the less very bright and personable and who deserved to get the best out of life. Chris is quite scathing of some of those whose role ,over the years, was far from helpful but he is also very ready to extend praise where people have willingly gone the second mile to make things possible for Mark. At the beginning of chapter thirteen Chris writes…”Along Mark’s journey of life we have come across some amazing gems of humanity. Mark wouldn’t be the character he is today without the encouragement and support he received in innumerable ways from these gems.” Chris also writes that…”Mark has a pretty robust faith in God, It’s a stronger faith than I reckon I’d have if I were in Mark’s shoes – or on his wheels, to be more metaphorically correct.” Mark of course grew up in a faith family. His Christian faith, and vibrant personality, have led to numerous opportunities to speak at seminars and conferences. After a struggle for funding he now lives on his own with the help of carers and revels in the independence this affords. There are lots of colour photos to add interest to this book. For a young man who has had to overcome the limitations of Cerebral Palsy Mark’s story is both an example and an inspiration to us all and especially to others who daily have to cope with the limitations they either endure or overcome. A great read from start to finish. “The chocolate Seller on Broadway and his kids” by Chris Grantham is published by The Cocoa Bean Press R.R.P. $30.00 (ISBN 978-0-473-15611-4) Published in 2009 Large format 122 pages. Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the “VINTAGE JESUS” by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. Crossway 27th March It is very refreshing to be able to review a book about Jesus that, in the words of well known author and theologian J.I. Packer, “targets teens and twenty somethings with the old, old story told in a modern, street-credible, style”. “VINTAGE JESUS” by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears is a book that, to quote Dr. Packer again, reveals Mark Driscoll “as a highly powerful, colourful and down to earth catechist” and Professor Breshears as someone who ”ballasts a sometimes lurid, but consistently vivid, presentation of the basic truth about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (End of quote) Here is a book that provides “Timeless answers to the timely questions” (sub title) that people today, especially young people, need to be asking about Jesus at a time when so many pseudo ‘Christian’ books are hitting the secular bookshop shelves. Books that present a Jesus very different to the one revealed in the Bible as the Son of God, Lord and Saviour. The preface tells readers that…”This book is a collaborative project between friends. As a young pastor, I (Mark), desired to be as competent a Bible preacher as possible. This led to a close friendship with my professor Dr. Gerry Breshears, whose biblical insights have been invaluable to my understanding of the person and work of Jesus as revealed in Scripture.” The twelve questions asked, and answered, begin with “Is Jesus the Only God?” This first chapter deals with the deity of Christ. This is logically followed by the question “How Human Was Jesus?” A chapter that obviously takes up the crucial issue of the humanity of Jesus. Chapter three poses the question “How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming? Here the subject of prophecy in the Old Testament, as it related to Jesus is presented. The short answer is that they read the Old Testament. Obviously if the Son of God was to leave the glory of heaven for a big O.E. on planet earth there must have been a very good reason - thus the next question “Why Did Jesus Come To Earth?” His coming was not as one might have imagined. One might have expected that the coming of the Son of God would be quite a spectacular show so “Why Did Jesus’ Mom Need To Be a Virgin? To all intents and purposes his death, on a Roman cross, seemed, from a purely human perspective, to indicate a total failure, cutting short what might well have been a very successful mission so “What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?” The short answer - more than most people realise! 2. The whole validity of the Christian faith hangs on the answer to the all important question. “Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?” The Biblical writers claim, in no uncertain terms, that he did…but then they would say that wouldn’t they? Convincing evidence is cited in chapter seven. “Jesus’ image is practically everywhere today” the authors claim “television, movies, T-shirts, magazines, web sites, blogs, books, artwork, and tattoos but ‘Where is Jesus Today?’” In preparing this chapter Mark interviewed people on the street to get their opinions about Jesus. The answers he received make for some interesting reading. This chapter explains just where Jesus is and what he is doing! With all the religious options on offer today “Why Should We Worship Jesus?” is a question many would ask in our secular, post Christian, P.C. society. There are many valid reasons why Jesus is superior to all other ‘saviours’ vying for our allegiance. “What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviours” is the question answered in chapter ten. Though many would not appreciate it the answer to the question “What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?” provides a wealth of examples as to the tremendous difference the coming of Jesus has made to the world in which we live. Conversely, when his teaching and example are neglected, or rejected, the effect soon become painfully obvious. The final question “What Will Jesus Do upon His Return” is more than just idle speculation. With all the current debate on the dangers of climate change it is refreshing to be reminded that God has everything under control. This world, as we know it has a ‘use by date’ and although we have a responsibility to care for God’s creation nothing we do, by way of carbon credits or the like, will push God’s timetable out of skew. These are timeless answers to timely questions presented in a reasoned and convincing way. As one reviewer wrote…”Wow! This is a powerful book. It’s edgy and, frankly, it made me uncomfortable at certain points…but for the right reasons.” (Dan Wolgemuth, President, Y.F.C. ) “VINTAGE JESUS” by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears is published by Crossway Books, hardcover edition, R.R.P. $39.99. (ISBN 978-1-58134-975-7
“ESSENTIAL 100 – Your way in to the heart of the Bible.” by Whitney T Kuniholm. Published by Scripture If you are a regular listener to Between the Covers you will have caught on to the fact that during January I have been emphasizing the importance of reading the Bible and applying what it teaches to daily living in every area of life. This has all been leading up to a promotion you may have seen advertised in various church periodicals. The Bible Society in , Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators have decided that it is time to take action. Their reason for such action has been provoked by the results of a recent Bible Society survey that indicated that “less than one quarter of Kiwi Christians read their Bible during the week.” This is in something of a contrast to many other parts of the world where people are crying out for the Bible and have a real hunger for the message it contains. We in have an over abundance of Bibles and yet, it would seem, most are gathering dust. As a result these three organizations are combining to issue a “Bible Reading Challenge”. This challenge is being launched across on Your church can register now at: www.E100nz.org.nz. so you can be ahead of the pack when the new NZ/Australian edition of becomes available. “ESSENTIAL 100” will also be available at your local Christian Bookshop. “ESSENTIAL 100” provides you with a way in to the heart of the Bible through a selection of one hundred readings carefully selected from both the Old and the New Testaments. Having read the passage for the day, mainly of one or two chapters, there is just one page of helpful explanation, a note as to how the passage can be applied and then a short prayer. These selected readings and notes will help you to grasp the ‘big picture’ that the Bible presents. They will guide you as to how to respond to what the Bible has to say, and how to apply it to your daily life, as you become attuned to what you are reading and thinking about. You will also hear from God Himself, through His Word, and find a deeper level of intimacy with Him. Once you have got into the habit of reading the Bible each day, when the hundred days are over, you may well want to continue to be blessed in this way. David the Psalmist wrote that God’s Word was a lamp to his feet and a light for his path and it can be this for you too. The Lord Jesus said that His followers were the light of the world but we can only be that light if we are being regularly “recharged” with the light of God’s Word that He has provided for us. So not only are we to walk in the light we are also to share the light with others by the life we live, based on what we learn from the Bible, and also by doing what the Apostle Peter instructed – and that was to, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) The Bible provides us with light to live by but we can only benefit from that light when we read it, renewing our mind with it, and so increasingly think and act biblically as a result. To sum up, I will quote from the introduction: “ESSENTIAL 100” is a way for you to discover that ‘big story’ for yourself. It takes you on a journey through 100 easy to read passages, organized into twenty sections, so you’ll see how all the pieces fit together. Along the way, it gives you opportunities to record your insights and come to your own conclusions on how the Bible’s message applies to you today – to connect your story to the ‘big story’.” Then follows a brief description, by way of a road map, of how the twenty sections fit into the ‘big story’ – God’s plan of salvation. My hope and prayer is that you will take up the challenge, even if you already read the Bible on a daily basis, so that you can encourage others to come on board, accept the challenge, and be blessed as a result. “ESSENTIAL 100 – Your way to the heart of the Bible” compiled by Whitney T Kuniholm is published by Scripture Union. Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “RIGHT THINKING in a WORLD GONE WRONG” by John MacArthur and the leadership team at So far this month I have reviewed a book that answered many of the criticisms raised concerning the truth and reliability of the Bible. Then last week I suggested two books that were aimed at helping readers of the Bible understand it better and gain a better grasp of the beliefs derived from it. This week I have a book that demonstrates how the beliefs and teachings of the Bible should, and can be, applied to everyday life in the days in which we live. Writing to the Christians in Because we live in a sinful and rebellious world it is very easy to slip into the habit of thinking and acting as the world does and thus become conformed to its standards of morals, behaviour, ambitions, attitudes and so on. To combat this there is the need to be regularly reading the Bible so as to have our minds renewed and our thinking, and resulting behaviour, brought into line with what it reveals to be God’s good and perfect will. John MacArthur and the leadership team at What is presented here is a biblical response to today’s most controversial issues and this is done in a very balanced and well reasoned way without compromising on the clear teaching of Scripture. The book is divided into four parts, each with five chapters written by different people, or as a pastoral perspective by the group as a whole. Following the introduction “The Bible and Real Life”, Part One picks up on the subject of Entertainment and Leisure. How we spend our leisure time, and what we see and do by way of entertainment can be either up building spiritually or be detrimental to our spiritual health and development. This section has to do with glorifying God in the gray areas where Christian liberty on one hand and the world of entertainment on the other require wisdom and discernment. Following on from this are chapters dealing with internet dating and God-honouring romance. Video games and a biblical worldview. Making wise media choices for you and your family and finally entertainment, escapism and the cult of celebrity. All of these subjects dealt with in an open, realistic and well balanced way. Part Two examines Morality and Ethics. This section deals with issues related to divorce and remarriage, opposing abortion while at the same time reaching out to hurting women. Birth control, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy. Then follows a strategy for ministering to Christians struggling with hope, holiness and homosexuality. This section closes with a chapter on euthanasia, suicide and capital punishment. Part Three moves on to Politics and Activism. Chapter titles here are God, Government and the Gospel and how should Christians think about political activism. Faith, Fidelity, and the Free Market has to do with Biblical living in a secular economy. God’s Carbon Footprint deals with global warming and the environmental movement. From Every Tribe and Tongue takes up the subject of racism and reconciliation. Illegal immigration and border control pose a serious problem When the Nations Come to Us. Part Four looks at Tragedy and Suffering. The thorny issue of Divine providence and the problem of evil is dealt with here under the heading Sorrow, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. Responding rightly to personal hardship and the trials of life picks up on the much debated subject of when bad things happen to God’s people. Sound reasons are given for the Christian’s confidence and trust in God because our hope is centred in a heavenly Father who has His children’s best interests at heart. The two final chapters have to do with ways in which we can help the hurting, give hope to the lost, and present the Gospel as God’s solution for our fallen world. “RIGHT THINKING in a WORLD GONE WRONG” by John MacArthur and others is published by Harvest House R.R.P. $29.99. (Published 2009 Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-7369-2643-0) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “Holman QuickSource Guide to UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE” by Kendell H. Easley and the “ZONDERVAN HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE” Edited by Alister Last week I reviewed a book that, if read, should have restored any lost confidence in the authority and trustworthiness of the Bible as God’s inspired Word. But if you are not somebody who has had an upbringing that nurtured you in the Bible it may seem a rather confusing book to come to grips with. If this is so there are many books available that give clear and helpful background information on the Bible, its makeup, contents, themes, and so on. One of these is the “Holman’s Quick Source GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE” by Kendell H. Easley. As it says on the back cover…”If you’ve been wanting to get a better handle on the Bible—even if you’ve been reading it for years—this “Holman QuickSource” Guide pulls the sweeping story, the timeline, the key terms, and much more into clear, concise, yet surprisingly comprehensive summary of biblical information.” (End of quote) And this is exactly what it is, a colourful, well illustrated and informative book that outlines the main idea behind each of the sixty six books that make up the Bible. It shows where you can quickly locate Christian worldview themes and demonstrates how the shadow of Christ can be seen in each of the Old Testament books. Key verses are highlighted and the biblical story is summed up in six simple chapters. There are dozens of maps, pictures, timelines and other information relating to the author, subject matter, key message and literary feature of each book in the Bible. Chosen at random is the book of JOB. The information given is as follows…The English title is the name of the central character in the narrative and the chief speaker in the poetic dialogues. The title carries over from the Hebrew Bible. The Key Text is chapter one verse twenty one. “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” The Key Term is “Suffering”. The book of Job explores the issue of human suffering despite God’s goodness and power. The question of why people suffer and why evil continues has been the focus of intense thought throughout the ages. Job is the main biblical treatment of this subject. A One-Sentence Summary explains the content of the book of Job. After the upright Job suddenly lost his family, health, and possessions he and his friends dialogued at length about the reasons for his sufferings, but God alone had the final word and ultimately restored Job’s losses. Then follows God’s message in the book as it relates to purpose, Christian worldview elements, what the book has to teach us about God, about humanity and teachings that relate to salvation. There is information as to the shadow of Christ in Job, when these events happened, how Job fits into God’s story, the author and time of writing, its audience and destination along with its literary features, themes and structure. All this in a matter of five pages. And so it is for each of the books of the Bible. From the study of the Bible many beliefs are derived that are adhered to by the vast majority of Christians worldwide. These are dealt with in another book that complements the one just mentioned. The “ZONDERVAN HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF” edited by Alister McGrath and J.I. Packer contains a wealth of information about doctrines that have to do with Faith, God, Jesus, Salvation, The Church, and Christian Hope. This book opens with a very brief history of Christian belief derived from the New Testament and lived out in the What follows is a detailed explanation of the six key areas of belief I listed previously. This is very comprehensive but written in a style that makes for easy reading. There are many full colour plates and interesting inserts that make this a welcome reference book to both read, learn from and have at hand when questions of Christian belief arise. Two books to add depth to your Bible reading. The “HOLMAN QUICK SOURCE Guide to UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE” by Kendell H. Easley R.R.P. $24.99 (ISBN 978-0-8054-9433-4) and the “Zondervan HANDBOOK of CHRISTIAN BELIEF” Edited by Alister E. McGrath and James I. Packer. R.R.P. $29.99. (ISBN 978-0-310-26273-2) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “TAKING A STAND for the BIBLE” by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs. Harvest House $27.99 In the opening paragraph of the December “Creation Ministries” newsletter it was reported that in a recent poll in 54% of Australians ranked Jesus as the most influential person in history. Albert Einstein came second with 16% and Charles Darwin third with just 9%. The article went on to say…”Most Western nations had a foundational Christian heritage somewhere in their history, and what this survey revealed is that the vast majority of people believe that Jesus really existed and was a real historical figure.” But “Although most people believed this, the overwhelming majority (63%) did not believe, among other things, that Jesus would return physically. This exemplifies a widely held ‘low’ view of Scripture, and that our present culture has largely suspended belief in the deity of Christ and supernatural Christianity.” (End of quote) This low view of Scripture does not seem to be limited to society at large but is also reflected among Christians it would seem. According to a 2009 Bible Society survey less than a quarter of Kiwi Christians read their Bible during the week. The Scriptures are the staple diet for a healthy Christian life so why is it that so many people, who profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus, have so little appetite for the spiritual food so readily available in God’s Word the Bible? Maybe it is because we are feeding too much on the world’s fast food of visual entertainment. Or are we just too busy? Is the Bible thought to be past its use by date? It could be that our confidence in the Bible has been eroded by the many so-called experts who have been spreading biased information about the Bible and the reliability of what it contains. John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs in their new book “TAKING A STAND for the BIBLE” answer many of the critical questions that have been raised about God’s Word and is suitable read for Christians, pre-Christians and even skeptics if they are open minded enough to examine the evidence. It is a very reader friendly book that gives well reasoned answers to many of the questions that people raise about the Bible? Part One deals with what makes the Bible so special, It’s uniqueness among the world’s literature. How it is the only book that can truly be said to be God’s inspired Word to mankind. Part Two poses the question as to the accuracy of the Bible? Overwhelming evidences is cited that confirm its historicity and inerrancy as originally given. Its validity is proved by the many Old Testament prophecies that have been perfectly fulfilled. Other historical writers are quoted in support of the New Testament. The relationship of the Bible to science is also clearly set out. The authors believe, that although the Bible is not a scientific text book, where science is concerned it has never been proved to be wrong. In fact the Bible contains information that has only been discovered scientifically in recent years. The view held by some that the King James is the only truly inspired version in the English language is dealt with in detail in chapter nine. Also dealt with is the accusation that the Bible text has been changed and corrupted over the years. This is useful information, clearly explained, with sound arguments in support of the accuracy of the Bible that we have today. Part Three poses the question: What is in the Bible. In this section the authors examine its culture and the way in which archaeological discoveries support what is recorded in the Bible. Miracles in the Bible come next. Many people today deny the possibility of miracles with the result that they find them a stumbling block when it comes to reading the Bible. They need not be as the authors explain. The miracles recorded in the Bible, especially those in the New Testament are well attested to. Lots of people saw them and many of them would still have been alive when the first gospels came into circulation and so could have been refuted if not true. The Jesus of the Bible is the subject of the final chapter. Who he was and what is known about him is spelt out in some detail. The book closes with a challenge as to what we should do with the Bible. Appendix One explains who wrote the Bible and appendix two is an encouragement to read the Bible. It is the world’s best-selling and most influential book. Abraham Lincoln called it “the best gift God has given to man”. Patrick Henry said, “It is worth all other books which were ever printed.” If you have any doubts about the Bible then this is the book to read. “TAKING A STAND on the BIBLE” by John Ankerberg & Dillon Burroughs is published by Harvest House R.R.P. $27.99 (ISBN 978-0-7369-2400-9) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “LIVING WITH CONFIDENCE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD” by Dr. David Jeremiah. Thomas Nelson. R.R.P. $24.99 The book I reviewed last week, “What in the World is Going On?” presented a picture of the world we live in that could well cause us concern were it not for the fact that, as Christians, we have confidence in God, that all is under His control, and that His purposes are being perfectly worked out. If you took seriously the truths that Dr. David Jeremiah spelt out in that book then you will want to know how we, as followers of the Lord Jesus, should be living so as to honour and glorify Him and, in so doing, be the “light” and “salt” He would have us be in these days in which we live. “LIVING WITH CONFIDENCE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD” is Dr Jeremiah’s answer to that question concerning how we should live. His subtitle is “WHAT ON EARTH SHOULD WE DO NOW?” Before he answers that question he poses another that he answers in his introduction. How on earth did we get into this mess? The answer is all too obvious but it is important that we know the signs of the times from a Biblical perspective. The world at large has left God out of the equation. Even Western Society, that has such a strong Christian heritage, has, to a large degree, turned its back on the principles and practices that are inherent in it. At a time of international recession with its job loses, mortgage sales and life savings evaporating as finance companies and banks feel the squeeze. At the same time violence, natural disasters, famine, the plight of millions of refugees, along what seems to be skyrocketing depravity of morals and anti social behaviour, is all a cause for concern. So, how should we be living in the midst of so much chaos? Doctor Jeremiah outlines ten answers that show how we can weather the storm with a calm heart. Remember it was our Lord who said…”Let not your heart be troubled...” He also explains what it truly means to “wait on the Lord” and, along with this, examines what Jesus Himself is saying to our chaotic world. He closes with the question, can we take a broken world and rebuild it into something fruitful? What is required is staying power in ten different but complimentary ways. The first is to stay calm. If we panic and lose our cool. If we become anxious and over wrought we will be adversely affected in our walk with the Lord. When things get tough there is the temptation to become selfish and self centred. The answer to this is to stay compassionate. The next need is to stay constructive and remain positive. We have a great God who is absolutely trustworthy and in whom we can have complete confidence. One of the dangers of growing older is to rest on our laurels. To live as the Lord would have us live requires that we stay challenged and that will require that we stay connected, Christ centred and confident. So many people are blown about by what the Bible calls every wind of doctrine. but it is not so much doctrine today as other peoples opinions and the changing patterns of this world. Therefore the eighth thing we must stay is consistent. To stay consistent will demand that we stay committed and to stay committed requires that we stay convinced of those truths that the Bible teaches as to God’s requirements and purposes. The Bible is clear as to how God would have us live as His people and, only as such, can we be of benefit to others, as God would have us be. Each chapter is full of interesting illustrations, challenging facts, biblical principles and the wisdom of a servant of God who has proved, in his own life and many years of ministry, the essential nature of the ten ways in which we are to stay. Under the heading “ONE MORE THING” Doctor Jeremiah asks his readers to consider two conditions and whether either has changed. Firstly as to the condition of the world. How has that changed in your lifetime? And secondly the condition of your spirit. How has it changed as a result of the changes that have taken place in the world? Having read this book, and seriously interacted with the biblical truths it contains, the author believes you will have become a different person. One more able and committed to living for Jesus Christ with confidence in the chaotic world in which we live. “LIVING WITH CONFIDENCE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD” by Dr. David Jeremiah is published by Thomas Nelson R.R.P $24.99. (ISBN978-0-8499-4677-6) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the
“WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?” by Dr. David Jeremiah. As one year comes to a close and a new one beckons it is quite appropriate that we take time to look back on the year now ending and ponder some of the things that have happened and what perhaps have been the significant events and happenings that have taken place. It is also quite natural that we should look to the future and wonder just what might be in store for us in 2010. What I think most of us are reluctant to do is to just stop, and think about the present, and how, understanding just where we are at, might well influence the year ahead. Obviously this encompasses many different areas of life and though we may not be aware of it how, what is going on in the world at large, could well have an important part to play. This has been all too obvious as we have found with the present period of world wide recession. Today’s book asks the question “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?” The person who asks that question is well qualified to answer it, and he does in a very interesting and challenging way. Dr. David Jeremiah is a regular preacher on Shine TV. He already has many other books to his name and this one was written at the request of members of the church he pastors in His claim is that the events unfolding in today’s world are certainly unsettling, but they need not be confusing or frightening because the followers of Jesus have the answers in God’s Word. The Bible has plenty to say about the end times and what Dr. Jeremiah has done is to gather those prophecies that relate to ten challenges he believes face our world today. Well known author Tim LaHaye writes…”This well researched and brilliantly written book is so fascinating you can hardly put it down. It has much to offer any reader interested in what is going on in our world and ties current event to important biblical prophecies. You will be convinced by reading this book that we are on the verge of the greatest event in human history. Everyone, both inside and outside the church, should read it.” In his introduction Dr. Jeremiah makes the point that it is important to know the signs that God has forewarned us of, so that we are not taken by surprise when they happen. All the signs he details in his introduction are obvious to us as we read our newspapers and watch the news on the television. The problem is that we can be so bound up with our own little world that we don’t recognize them as such. Chapter one, “The Connection” has to do with the fulfillment of Scripture that has unfolded as the Jewish nation has been restored to its “promised land” after nearly two thousand years in exile. This was no accident of history but an act of God in fulfillment of His end time purposes. Chapter two, “The Crude Awakening”, shows just how reliant the world is upon oil and the significance of where most of the world’s oil reserves are situated. Most world economies would collapse if oil supplies were cut off. “Modern Chapter four takes up the subject of the rapture under the title “Vanished Without a Trace”. I realize that not all Christians adhere to the views expressed in this chapter but, by the same token, they should not be rejected out of hand because what is explained in this chapter has a good and solid basis in the Scriptures. Coming from an American author the question posed in chapter six is to be expected…”Does Have a Role in Prophecy?”… you will have to read the book to find out. The remaining chapters have to do with “When One Man Rules the World”, ”The New Axis of Evil”, “Arming for Armageddon” and “The Return of the King.” At the end of the book Appendix A contains Jewish population statistics worldwide and Appendix B details conventional oil reserves by country. This is a stimulating and thought provoking book that helps the reader to better understand God’s end time purposes. This in turn should prompt us to be active in seeking to implement God’s work in the world in 2010. “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?” by Dr. David Jeremiah is published by Thomas Nelson R.R.P. $29.99 (ISBN978-0-8499-2147-6) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch Studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL. Radio Rhema - “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “CHANGING LIVES” Parts One & Two. Collator Pete Cossey. Obviously as we approach and then celebrate Christmas our thoughts are directed to the birth of a baby in Little did those involved at the birth of Jesus realise the impact that he would have on the history of the world. I have on my bookshelf a book that I remember reviewing some time back that recounts the many different ways in which the life and teaching of Jesus has changed the world. But today’s books are not about the world wide impact that the coming of Jesus made but the impact His life, death and resurrection has had on millions upon millions of individuals. Pete Cossey has collated dozens of stories of individuals from a great range of situation who were brought face to face with the claims of Jesus and, as a result, handed their lives over to His Lordship. “CHANGING LIVES” Parts One and Two introduce readers to twenty two different mission agencies operating around the world today. Each chapter opens with a brief account of how the mission came into being. Following this are several testimonies from those either working for that mission or from someone whose life was impacted as a result of the witness of that mission and its personnel. The chapter then closes with some information about that mission. Its stated purpose, where it operates, its structure, organization and management. The ministry and projects it is currently undertaking and who it partners with in seeking to fulfill them. Along with this are listed opportunities that excite them for the future. “CHANGING LIVES” then is a compilation of inspiring stories written by many different authors and collected together in chapters, one for each mission agency. The first mission under the spotlight is “INTERSERVE”. Although this organization has been around for over a hundred and fifty years it has only been known as “INTERSERVE” since the 1980’s. Their stated purpose is…”To make Christ known through integrated ministry, in partnership with the global church, amongst the neediest peoples of Their ministry and projects include education, theological training, discipleship, health care, community development, environmental concern, business “in many professional areas, church development, mission mobilization, child and youth work. Following these details are three stories. The first from an “INTERSERVE” worker who was invited to the house of a neighbour for dinner. When he walked into the room there were twenty men from the local mosque. Prominent among them was the outspoken, bearded Iman. The conversation that ensued makes interesting reading. The next story is about seventeen year old Ahmed. He didn’t know how to tell his family that he had become a Christian. The opportunity to disclose his faith came when a woman in the village gave evidence of being possessed by an evil spirit. The doctor and the mosque leader failed in their efforts to drive out the unclean spirit. Ahmed knew that Jesus was more powerful than them and so, clutching his Bible to his chest, he said, “In the name of Jesus – leave!” For a moment there was frozen silence and then, in one violent motion, she snatched the New Testament and threw it, sending it sprawling in the dust, pages dishevelled. Although Ahmed was only a young believer with only six months teaching he was now seeing his faith lying in the dust. Even so he went and retrieved his New Testament, dusted it off, walked back to the women and holding it to her chest he said, “In the name of Jesus – leave!” What happened next will have to wait until you read the book. There are many many more such stories that will encourage and stimulate your faith. The details about each of the missions will broaden your appreciation of the impact that the baby, whose birth we celebrate on the 25th December, is still making in our world today. Pastor Phil Richardson writes about this book…”An amazingly succinct yet diverse insight into the lives of New Zealanders on mission, Changing Lives presents an inspirational cross-section of historic and present day Kiwis taking the Gospel to the nations.” “CHANGING LIVES” collated by Pete Cossey is published by the Strategic Missions Charitable Trust. R.R.P. $24.99 (ISBN 978-0-9864508-0-8 & 1-5) Reveiwed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “Same Kind of Difference As me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Published by Thomas Nelson. Ron Hall and Denver Moore are about as different as two men could be. From the age of eight the only life Each long hard day the cotton picked was weighed and an undisclosed amount credited to each picker. They then purchased what they needed from the plantation store and this was deducted from their credit…though they never seemed to be in credit! This went on year after year. On one occasion some white teenagers saw him helping a white lady by changing a flat tyre on her car. They accused him of molesting her, she said nothing in his defense, so they beat him up and dragged him down the road behind the horse one of them was riding. Well into his twenties, he decided to take off. He hitched a ride on a goods train and headed for He had several brushes with the law, a spell in prison, and ended up a dangerous, homeless drifter who kept to himself to himself until God began to play a role in his life. Ron Hall was very different as he explains in the chapters that recount his childhood and teenage years. After a short time in the financial world he discovered there was a lot more money to be made trading in expensive art works. Something he became very successful in. He met and married Deborah, a beautiful young women with a real heart for God, Ron himself being only nominally a Christian. Some years later Ron had an affair that nearly split their marriage but all was confessed and forgiven and as a result both made a real commitment to make their marriage work, and it did in a very beautiful way. Deborah gave of her time to help at a mission for vagrants and street people. Ron reluctantly became involved too. Every Tuesday they were there serving meals and Deborah soon won the hearts of those who came for the warmth and food that was freely available. Though he always seemed to keep himself separate This proved to be a real challenge. Ron lacking confidence that he could, or even wanted to, and It is stating the obvious to say that this is a book that needs to be read to be really appreciated. It is a true story recounted by both Ron and At first it is a little confusing as to who is speaking in each chapter but after a while it becomes obvious and their individual accounts just flow as their gripping story continue. This book has all the ingredients required for a good read. Two men from entirely different upbringings and lifestyle overcoming prejudice and personal misgivings to forge a friendship that has stood the test of time. I agree wholeheartedly with Mark Clayman who is quoted on the back cover. He says this book is the…”The most inspirational and emotionally gripping story of faith, fortitude, and friendship I have ever read. A powerful example of the healing, restorative power of forgiveness and transformational, life changing, power of unconditional love.” “Same Kind of Difference As me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with the help of Lynn Vincent is published by Thomas Nelson R.R.P. $29.99. (ISBN 978-0-8499-1910-7 Published in 2006 Trade paperback 245 pages) Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” “See the Wonder” and “Changing Seasons” by Lois Patrick. Often admired is a little book that sits on our lounge coffee table, along with several other larger tomes. It is one of two avid photographer Lois Patrick has produced that combine full colour photos of nature’s beauty with devotional thoughts that connect meaningfully with the photos. Lois Patrick grew up in Taranaki, then trained as a Primary School teacher at Dunedin College of Education. For the last thirty years, she and her husband Jim, have been in Pastoral Ministry with Baptist Churches in various parts of . As a result they have lived and traveled in many parts of and, as these books illustrate, Lois has pursued her love of photography. In addition to this she has an obvious love for the Lord and a desire to glorify Him through photography and devotional one liners that add meaning to the pictures she has taken. Her first book, “See the Wonder” reflects the beauty of God’s creation. Quoting from the book of Job Lois reminds her readers that “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed…” (Job The first page shows a wooded country scene with a bold sign beside the road that says “SLOW DOWN”. Something we all need to do, so that we can really see, enjoy and appreciate the wonders of God’s creation. The Page four features a bird of paradise flower with the name I learnt as a florist many years ago. It’s a stralitza. Not a word contained in my spell check. The warmth of sunshine is illustrated by the reflection of the sun on a choppy lake surrounded by trees. And so this book continues with pictures of lakes, sheep, wind blown sand, sun tinged clouds and a beautiful sunrise to herald a new day. A newly wed couple stand in a heart shape picked out in the sand, a simple bouquet lies on the sand as the couple hug and thank God for the gift of love. This is followed by the joy a family brings as father holds his new born child. Thirty nine photos and captions in all that show just how wonderful our creator God is. Book Two, “Changing Seasons”, traces ’s beauty through the seasons of the year, with a devotional thought at the bottom of each page. Lois writes by way of introduction…”The different seasons bring dramatic changes to ’s beautiful landscape. As the natural seasons come and go, so do the seasons of our lives. Sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually.” “You cannot cause one season to be missed or hurried. Each must run its cause. Each has its own purpose. As you enjoy the beauty of natures changing landscape, look inward and recognize the seasons of life, each with their unique challenge and promise for the future.” Lois quotes the wisdom of Solomon in this regard when he wrote…”There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The pictures that follow are full of interest, each with its caption and application to daily life. In both books the places where the pictures were taken are listed, along with an acknowledgement of the few photos taken by other people. With Christmas giving in mind these books would make a very acceptable gift that will go on being enjoyed for many years. Left on a coffee table, as ours is, will guarantee that your guests have something attractive and stimulating to ponder during those odd moments when you have to slip out to make sure the meal isn’t burning. “See the Wonder” and “Changing Seasons” by Lois Patrick are available from your local Christian Bookshop at the R.R.P. of just $19.99. (ISBN 9780 473 091002 and 9416 479 003014. Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 12 Sept 2009
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 5 Sept 2009
The DVD documentary “The VOYAGE that SHOOK the WORLD” Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 28th March 2009 “The HOSPITAL by the RIVER” by Dr Catherine Hamlin with John Little.
I read “The HOSPITAL by the RIVER” while recovering from surgery recently. Any pain, discomfort and inconvenience I was suffering paled into insignificance compared to suffering of the many hundreds of women who suffer from the catastrophic effects of obstructed labour.
The awful injuries that such labour produced are called fistulae, a condition that results in its sufferers becoming outcasts and condemning them to a life of misery and shame because of their incontinence.
But I get beyond myself where this book is concerned. The early chapters deal with the routes by which Reg Hamlin and Catherine, his wife to be, ended up working as doctors in the same hospital in Australia.
Reg’s father, a rather austere man, was a builder and motor car dealer in Napier. His mother was the opposite, a kind and gentle women. Reg had a beautiful voice, inherited from his grandfather. At thirteen he was offered an educational scholarship so that he could join the celebrated Christchurch Cathedral Choir.
His educational path led him into medicine, something he had long dreamed of doing. What followed his training makes for interesting reading and eventually leads to a senior position in Crown Street Women’s Hospital in a rather unsavoury suburb of Sydney.
Catherine, an Australian, graduated with a medical degree in 1946 at the age of twenty two. She too ended up, as an intern, at Crown Street Women’s Hospital. In the course of their duties she met Reg, some years her senior, and, as time passed, their working relationship moved step by step to one of marriage and a life of Christian service together.
In 1959 they accepted positions in a hospital in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia where it wasn’t long before they discovered the distressing problem mentioned at the start of my review.
So great was the plight of these women that Reg and Catherine determined to do something about it. They studied all that had been written about this condition, and found that after much trial and error, a surgical procedure had been developed that could restore the normal functioning of the damaged bladder and bowel walls that had been pierced as a result of an extended labour and the eventual birth of a dead child.
Their life in Ethiopia makes for some enthralling reading. They had contact with all levels of society from the poorest right through to royalty. I found the details of life in Ethiopia fascinating to read and the daily events of life in a busy hospital, with its great variety of patients and staff, medical and domestic, full of interest and excitement.
As Christians their compassion for fistulae sufferers became the driving force for what followed as they came to realize that there was hope for such women, treatment that could restore them to a normal life.
Their dream was to establish a hospital especially for such treatment and in 1974 the Addis AbabaFistulaHospital was opened. Since then Catherine, Reg and their dedicated team of fistula surgeons have successfully operated on over 25,000 women.
Although their salaries were paid by the government they had only been allowed to open their hospital if it was fully funded from overseas. As a result not only did Reg and Catherine have to run the hospital and perform most of the surgery they also had to raise the funds for it to operate.
This they did through their many contacts in the U.K., U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand. Reg was gifted in his ability to convey the plight of these women and the work they were pioneering and many individuals and organizations donated generously and continue to do so.
Their work was allowed to continue throughout the turbulent political history of the period although at times it became quite dangerous for them. This is a book full of human interest, history, culture, medical drama, warfare, social activity, Christian witness and family life. Reg and Catherine have a son Richard who now lives and works in the U.K.
Since Reg’s death Catherine and her team have continued their work and the Addis AbabaFistulaHospital is now a major teaching institution for gynaecologists from all over Ethiopia and the developing world.
“The HOSPITAL by the RIVER” by Dr Catherine Hamlin with John Little is published by Monarch at the R.R.P. of $29.99 (ISBN 978-0-8254-6071-5)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 21st March 2009.
“The Miracle at Speedy Motors” by Alexander McCall Smith.
Each month, when I’ve finished reading the Christian books to be reviewed, I take a break and read a secular book of some kind. From time to time I discover a gem that illustrates a spiritual truth in a more powerful and lucid way perhaps than when read in a Christian novel or devotional book.
One such I found recently in Alexander McCall Smith’s latest book in “The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series entitled “The Miracle at Speedy Motors”. (Little Brown Book Group, London)
The series is set in Botswana and the proprietor of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe, who is described as being ‘traditionally built’, and her assistant Grace Makutsi, whom, readers are regularly reminded, achieved ninety seven per cent in the final exams at the Botswana Secretarial College, have been receiving some very nasty, spiteful, and vindictive hate mail.
At first they think it may be a member of the staff of the Speedy Motors garage next to their office. Then one day a young woman is seen leaving a letter, on an oil drum, in the garage and she is recognized as being a former student of the Secretarial college at which Grace Makutsi did so well.
This young lady, Violet Sephotho, only managed to scrape through the coarse but because she was very attractive she landed a very good job as a secretary. Which, at the time, the rather plain, bespectacled, Grace Makutsi, thought was rather unfair, considering her ninety seven per cent.
It seems that Violet has now fallen on hard times and is very jealous of Precious and Grace who seem to be doing so well. Violet is cornered in the local super-market and challenged as to the letters she is believed to have sent and, although she denies it, it is pretty obvious that she is the culprit.
Grace Makutsi is all for sending Violet a blistering letter…”We can inform her” she tells her boss, ”that we have handed the letters to the police. We can also say that we have consulted our lawyers and they are preparing a case against her. And we can tell her that the letters were written by such a silly, cowardly person, who was a disgrace to the BotswanaSecretarialCollege – a complete disgrace.”
“Mma Ramotse shook her head. ‘No Grace. I don’t think we shall do that. Thank you, but no.’ She drained her cup of her favourite bush tea and asked Grace Makutsi to take down a letter. This is what she dictated…
“Dear Violet, We met in the supermarket. You know who I am, but I do not think that we know one another well. I am sorry that I have not had a chance to get to know you better, but maybe in the future that will happen.
“I believe that you wrote me some letters. I know that you claim you did not do this, but I believe that there is enough evidence to satisfy me, at least, that it was you.
“I am writing to say sorry to you. The only reason why anybody should have written those letters was that I – and my assistant, Mma Makutsi – must have done something in the past to make you feel angry with us. If we have done that – and I do not know what it could be – then I want you to know that I am very sorry for making you feel that way about us. You should not have written to us in the way that you did, but I am still saying sorry for anything we have done, Mma, and I am asking you to accept that apology.
“I think, by the way, that I knew your aunt, the one who lived for some years in Mochudi and is now late (dead). Sephotho is not a common name, so my late friend must have been your relative. I remember that she always spoke highly of one of her nieces who was doing well in Gaborone, and that must have been you! Your aunt was very proud of you, as I recall.
“Yours sincerely, Precious Ramotswe.”
The great temptation when we get offside with people, or when, for whatever reason, they seem to take a dislike to us, are rude to us, and speak ill of us, is to respond as Grace Makutsi wanted to.
I thought the letter that Precious Ramotswe wrote was a perfect example of Christian grace extended to someone who had treated her badly. Rather than widening the gap between the two it opened the door to reconciliation, and even friendship. A much more positive approach I think you would agree and certainly in line with the teaching of Jesus who said…
”Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. And… “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.”
Extracted from “The Miracle at Speedy Motors” by Alexander McCall Smith. Published by the Little Brown Book Group in London.
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 14th March 2009
“Plan Be” by Dave Andrews. Authentic $19.99
“Plan Be” by Dave Andrews, an author about whom I know nothing, challenges his readers, in an “in the face” sort of way to “be the change you want to see in the world”.
If last week’s book had to do with being the answers to our prayers then this book outlines, in very practical terms, how that can become a reality. The claim made is that this book “rescues the ‘beatitudes’ from their obscurity as a poetic introduction to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and reframes them as a set of radical ‘Be Attitudes’”.
Rather than being a list of rather lofty ideals Dave Andrews presents his readers with a complete shift of focus as he invites us live them rather than just quote them as some sort of religious creed.
To turn, from unrealistic religious idealism, to a practical outworking of the principles that underlie this bed rock teaching of Jesus. To act on them is revolutionary, and that revolution, the author claims, begins with us.
Dr. Charles Ringma states in his commendation of this book that the Anabaptists, an early 16th century, radical wing of the Reformation, “believed that the Sermon on the Mount was not simply a set of ideals for a brutal world, but a way of life in following Christ and his peaceable kingdom that could be lived.”
The chapter headings speak for themselves. 1. Blessed are the poor and all those who are with them in spirit. Matthew and Luke differ in their quoting of what Jesus said. The difference being those who are poor and those who are poor in spirit. The promise here is that they will receive great comfort.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, who wail, lament and cry out loud. Not so much for their own sake but for the state of society and the world around them. They grieve at the way in which God is disobeyed and dishonoured and are grieved at the poverty and hunger that is so prevalent - and so on.
3. Blessed are the meek who practice self restraint and self control. The word translated as meek has two separate but interrelated meanings. Firstly to have neither too much anger nor too little anger. The second meaning had to do with tamed, domestic animals. A meek person being
one who is under control. Not weak but with a strength of spirit that is powerful but not violent. even in the face of great provocation. It is the meek who inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who seek righteousness and seek to do right by others. Righteousness here indicates that he is commending not so much personal piety but social justice in the world. People who side with God in having a hunger and a thirst for justice. Such people will be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful those, that is, who treat others like they treat themselves. This is to fulfill the commandment to love ones neighbour as one loves oneself. To do unto others as you would have them do to you.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, people who really clean up their act. The pure in heart are those with unmixed motives. The word used here is one that is applied to winnowed wheat and unadulterated wine. A life that has been refined in the heat of adversity.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers who are the true children of God. In a world where conflict is rife at every level the true children of God are those who stand out because it is their passionate desire and active commitment to bring reconciliation and harmony wherever there is friction and division.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. There is nothing essentially meritorious or glorious about being persecuted. Nor is there any intrinsic merit in suffering in this way. What Jesus is commending here, according to Dave Andrews is that it is a “willingness to suffer persecution ‘because of righteousness’ which is inherently worthwhile.”
This book sets out to show that the teaching of Jesus, contained in the Sermon on the Mount, “is an original, imaginative and brilliantly do-able set of realistic ideals that give us a way to engage a world of poverty and violence. The Be-Attitudes’ are a life-changing framework for ‘being the change we want to see in the world’”.
“Plan Be” by Dave Andrews is published by Authentic R.R.P. $19.99.
(ISBN 978-1-80578-778-5 Published 2008 - 95 pages)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 7th March 2009
“BECOMING THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS” by Shane Claiborne and Jonathon Wilson-Hartgrove.
IVP $24.99
We are constantly being told by environmentalists that we must conserve the world’s natural resources. The world’s ever increasing population, along with a growing desire on the part of many to enjoy the benefits of modern science and technology, is putting pressure on those natural resources that we, in the West, have long taken for granted.
Water, oil, gas, coal and timber, along with many other commodities essential to modern living, are being used up at an ever increasing rate. Added to this is the fact that while we in the West enjoy an abundance of food of all kinds the vast majority of the world’s population exists on a very meager diet.
But there is one resource that is grossly under used. It is freely available but is largely neglected, even by those who claim to know its power and effectiveness. In emergencies almost everyone resorts to it though few would claim to do so on a regular basis.
I am, of course, talking about prayer. The creator of all the natural resources that we use so greedily has made available a source of power greater than any other that mankind can tap into and utilize.
We certainly can’t feed prayer into the national grid but we can avail ourselves of its benefits in many areas of life. To neglect to do so is an insult to the One who so graciously invites us to avail ourselves of its many benefits.
In selecting books for review in March, without realizing it at the time, I picked up two that had prayer as their subject. The first is Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove’s, “BECOMING THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS”.
They make the claim in their introduction…”Prayer is not so much about convincing God to do what we want God to do as it is about convincing ourselves to do what God wants us to do.” (End of quote)
Prayer is so much more than just asking God for things. It is no wonder we become disappointed and disheartened when prayer, used in that way, doesn’t seem to be very affective.
2.
This is not a book about how to pray though the authors recognize that we need prayer like roses need water. We need a connection to God that sustains, guides, and makes us into something beautiful.
Prayer is relating to God in many different ways that indicate a relationship rather than a demand and supply provision. God wants us to fellowship with Him and one of the ways we do this is through prayer.
This book looks at three prayers recorded in the Bible. Firstly: The Lord’s Prayer. The disciples saw Jesus praying and because they saw the effect it had in His life they asked Him to teach them to pray.
This prayer is an invitation to a beloved community, The family of God. Those who know Jesus as Lord and Saviour are God’s children and therefore are bidden to approach God as Father. Our Father in heaven.
It is a prayer that begins with a transcendent God beyond the boundaries of this world, whose name is so hallowed that it is not even mentioned. Instead of a name for God we are given a characteristic of God – that of Father. It is a prayer that puts God first and then goes on to deal with the things we need to sustain our physical and spiritual life.
Considered next is the prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17. It is a beautiful prayer for love and unity for the sake of the world. It is a prayer for the people of God, set apart from the world, in it but not of it, who exist to bring honour to the Father. They do this by displaying love and unity to the world, something we all too often fail to do.
Ephesians 1:15 – 23 records a prayer of Paul that has to do with growing deeper in spiritual wisdom and the hope of receiving an inheritance that sustains us through hard and difficult times.
Many examples are given of ways in which groups of God’s people have become the answer to the prayers they prayed so earnestly. The practice of prayer becomes so much more rewarding when we experience God answering our prayers and often using us in the process of doing so.
“BECOMING THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS” BY Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is published by Inter Varsity Press. R.R.P. $24.99. (ISBN978-0-8308-3622-2 Published 2008 124 pages)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 28th February 2009
“JOY IN THE JOURNEY” by Harry Yeoman.
“JOY IN THE JOURNEY” claims to be the story of two ordinary people who followed God’s leading on a truly extraordinary journey and in doing so discovered a very special kind of joy.
Though their story is certainly the record of an extraordinary journey Harry and May Yeoman are, in my estimation, far from being ordinary people. What God has accomplished through them over their long and varied life places them among the heroes of the faith whose pilgrimage, recounted in this long and fascinating book, is both inspiring and encouraging.
May and Harry were born on different sides of the world, he in New Zealand in 1919, and she in the UK in 1921. They met in London during World War Two. Harry was then serving in the New Zealand Air Force.
They have been married for more than sixty five years, raised six children and lived and worked in eight different countries and traveled in many more. Now, in their very late 80’s they live in a quiet retirement village.
Harry must have kept a very comprehensive diary to have been able to record all that he has in such detail. The opening chapter tells of Harry’s arrival in the UK in February 1942.
May tells her story in chapter two and Harry tells of his childhood and teen years in chapter three and so the story continues. After the war Harry and May returned to New Zealand, a move that proved a real challenge to May.
Harry returned to the company he had worked for prior to the war, firstly in Wellington and then in Christchurch. During this time children were born and the opportunity came to train as a teacher, something Harry with his love of music was keen to pursue.
But Harry and May’s life work was yet to be revealed to them and, as often happens where God’s purposes are concerned, it was a growing interest in Christian radio that opened the door to several decades of fruitful work with HCJB in South America, Canada and Europe.
So packed full are these years with travel, family, Christian fellowship and hospitality enjoyed in towns and cities around the world that these few minutes do not allow me to do justice to all that is recorded in this book.
Of preaching, deputation, and the producing of programmes for broadcasting around the world along with the encouragement given to HCJB supporters and regional committees and pioneering new work as the world’s radio waves became more available for use by Christian Radio.
May was truly a co-worker in the fullest sense of the word, sometimes traveling, sometimes holding the fort while Harry was away. Always available to offer hospitality to the many who visited them in the many different places where they lived and served the Lord.
This is a book filled with interest and activity, of answered prayer, of joys and setbacks, of constant travel and the need to throw off tiredness or jet-lag to be available to speak of the work, to share with local committees or interview prospective workers for HCJB and its radio work around the world. Many late nights and early morning starts.
In his foreword Dr. Ron Cline, a former President of HCJB writes of three things that he loved about Harry and May. Their flexibility, their sense of fun and their faithfulness. A very inspiring read indeed.
“JOY IN THE JOURNEY” by Harry Yeoman was published by the author in 2008. Distributed in New Zealand by GPH Wholesale. R.R.P. $29.99.
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 21st February 2009
“Consuming JESUS” by Paul Louis Metzger. Eerdmans Publishing.
Before the advent of the motor car most Christians would have attended a church that was within walking distance, though the gentry might well have used a carriage.
As more and more people became city dwellers, and religious freedom allowed people to choose from a much wider range of churches, believers choice as to which church to attend would either have been a case of family loyalties as to denomination – the church you were brought up in – or according to their doctrinal beliefs and convictions.
Today people may travel from one side of a city to another to attend church on a Sunday morning. If lines could be drawn, on a city or town map, from home to church it would show a vast number of people totting up many kilometers to get to the church of their choice.
No longer, does it seem, that denomination, or doctrine, are the primary reasons for the choice of a church. Though it may still be for the older generation.
Trends in church attendance today tend to reflect the nature of the society in which we live. Western society is a consumer society. It can only sustain its standard of living by producing and consuming.
We shop where we can get the best deal, where there is the greatest selection to choose from, and the largest car park in the closest proximity to the shop or mall of our choice and so on.
This consumer mindset can easily transfer into other areas of life as Paul Louis Metzger maintains in his new book “Consuming JESUS”.
What Metzger writes is more appropriate to the AmericanChurch scene than what I perceive to be the case here but, none the less, as we seem to follow American trends to be warned is to be forearmed.
This is a long and complicated book to read and I must confess to having wrestled with it, over a longer period of time, than I usually take to read a book.
But even so this book has a message that needs to be heard. There is a very real danger of joining, and being a part of, a church fellowship for no
better reasons than that it meets our needs, we like the music, the preacher is interesting doesn’t go on too long, most of the people there are our kind of people and there are activities organized that we enjoy.
Metzger maintains that much of the church growth in the States is the result of a “marketing” strategy that targets a particular group of people who are most likely to be able to fund, and implement, the range of activities that will meet the needs of those it aims at attracting.
He believes that instead of the Church of Jesus Christ displaying the unity that its Lord prayed for it is in fact very divided. “In looking at the issue,” writes Donald Miller in his foreword, Dr. Metzger “backs his lens out to see the church as a whole, but then further to see the culture as it surrounds the church like a womb of sorts.”
He goes on to say that…”as biblical scholarship is in decline, and church leaders become more versed in television news that in New Testament Greek, we understand the church better, not by simply by studying it, but by studying what it has eaten to become it.”
Dr. Metzger goes to great lengths in presenting his case. As his introduction indicates he believes that many churches have traded their stone altars for coffee bars.
Many churches have succumbed to worldly methods in their attempts to achieve spiritual ends and focused on meeting the wants of some at the expense of the needs of many who go untouched by the gospel that is intended to be available to all, of whatever colour, race or social class.
Having made his case the author presents his answers and they require some reordering of the Christian life as it is currently practiced by many, a supernatural shakeup, and a reordering of the Church’s life and outreach so as to fulfill the God given mission entrusted to it.
“Consuming JESUS” by Paul Louis Metzger is published by Eerdmans at the R.R.P. of $29.99. (ISBN 978-0-8028-3068-5 Published 2007)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 14th February 2009
“JUSTDECISIONS” by Alistair Mackenzie & Wayne Kirkland. NavPress NZ.
Wayne Kirkland is, among other things, a car dealer. Just over twelve months ago he sold a second hand Toyota Camry to a customer. The car had been put through a comprehensive check before sale that showed it to be in above-average condition for its age and price range.
Twelve months later, the customer calls Wayne. A problem had recently developed with the automatic transmission. What, the customer wants to know, is Wayne going to do to fix the problem?
According to the terms of sale Wayne is under no legal obligation to pay for any repairs that may be needed. Nor is he under any moral obligation, considering the length of time that has elapsed since the vehicle was purchased.
But Wayne is a Christian who seeks to maintain a high standard of integrity in his business. Is it his responsibility to do something? If he does the cost of the repairs required will mean that he will have made little or no profit from the sale which is obviously not good business.
Rather than make a hasty decision Wayne tells his customer he will get back to him within a day with his reply. As he puts the phone down a number of different concerns begin to swirl round in his mind.
His considerations, over the next few hours, form the basis for the first five chapters of his, and co-author Alistair MacKenzie’s book, “JUSTDECISIONS” as he searches for Biblical commands and principles that might guide him in making a God honouring decision.
He finds this to be no simple matter as there are differing commands that relate to different situations and these need to be balanced out when it comes to making the decision he has to. The Bible just doesn’t contain Ten Commandments for second hand car dealers.
He also needs to calculate the consequences of whatever decision he might make, not only for the customer in question, for whom he has considerable sympathy, but for future such situations.
He realizes that such decision making processes develop character and that there is a need to put a whole lot of things together if a fair, wise and just decision is to be arrived at.
The Monday to Friday business world is a mine field of conflicting opinions as to what is acceptable business practice and Christians need to recognize that the command, not to “conform any longer to the pattern of this world” given by Paul in Romans 12:2 applies just as much in the realm of business as it does in any other area of life.
This very readable book helps readers to fulfill the second half of that verse…”but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve God’s will—he good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Wayne’s considerations occupy the first part of this two part book. The second, longer part, considers a whole range of Creative tensions that come into play when faced with making decisions that often prove to be Ongoing Dilemmas.
There is firstly the tension between Love for God verses the Pursuit of Profit where business is concerned. Then follows an interlude that recounts a tale of many blind spots that illustrates how easy it is to miss important considerations.
Then there is Love verses the Competitive Drive that keeps businesses ahead of the market. What then of People’s Needs verses the Obligation to make a Profit if the business is to stay afloat.
There can also be the conflict between Humility and the Ego of Success and Work verses the Other Commitments such as family and church. Ones ability to give to Charity from the Wealth one generates is another issue and many illustrations are given of men who have set an example in this regard.
Maintaining a Faithful Witness in the SecularCity is the subject of chapter twelve and the book closes with Two Competing Ethical Visions.
As the authors say…”Our daily jobs are full of decisions. Some small, some large. Whether we are employers or employees or self-employed; whether we work at office or workshop, on hospital floor or factory floor, in a truck or a dairy or market garden…we are all faced with problems. Sometimes, very tricky problems.” How to make such decisions is the subject of the excellent book.
“JUSTDECISIONS” by New Zealand authors Alistair MacKenzie and Wayne Kirkland is published in 2008 by NavPress NZ at the R.R.P. of $24.99.
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studious of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” - 7th February 2009
“NEW ZEALAND WITHOUT GOD?” by George Bryant. WHAUPUBLICATIONS.
Author George Bryant, said that his book, “NEW ZEALAND WITHOUT GOD?” was sparked by a visit to the UK in 2007, where he saw so many disused churches which had been converted to theatres, retail outlets and mosques.
“It set me thinking about the disappearance of organized religion,” he writes, “I wanted to examine where society was headed without the moral and social influence of Christianity.”
From his observation of trends over the past twenty or thirty years God is gradually, but surely, disappearing from the New Zealand social scene in favour of secular, neo-pagan beliefs and practices.
New Zealand society has been influenced considerably by Christian values and many of the benefits that we enjoy today are the result of that influence. Sadly, as George Bryant details, there has been a gradual decline, over the past fifty years or so, in the application of these values in society at large.
Church attendances have declined, few churches have Sunday School type activities of any consequence and many young people raised in Christian families are turning their back on the faith of their parents in their mid to late teens.
We are all aware of how moral standards have declined as Christian principles have been set aside and situational ethics become more the vogue. I don’t need to detail the effect that this has had upon morals & family life, it is all too obvious.
George Bryant identifies many of the other changes that have taken place and poses the question that, if such changes continue what will New Zealand society be like in 2030. The outlook is not a happy one.
He also asks the question: is Christianity a Dead Duck? and claims that godlessness is booming in Kiwiland. He goes on to ask why this is and identifies some of the flashpoints that produce the sort of anti social situations that we see so often recorded in the media.
What if Christianity disappeared altogether to be replaced by the other religions that are growing in New Zealand, as those of other ethnic groups increase in number and influence. Then there are the many other new age spiritualities that are growing in popularity. While these are on the ascendancy Christianity is subjected to ridicule and criticism aimed at discrediting it.
Having carefully examined all the negative factors, and come to what I felt was a very reasoned and honest evaluation of New Zealand society today, the author goes on to ask how do we want to live? What sort of New Zealand would we want it to be for our grandchildren?
He paints a picture of what the good society would look like. The sorts of things almost everyone would aspire to. He then goes on to identify the core values that would be the foundation of such a society. These include love, dignity, peacemaking, humility, commitment and community.
When the teaching of Jesus is examined we soon discover that in fact these core values and ideals were very much a part of the good news He came to proclaim.
Taken seriously, and practiced with integrity, the Bible is the best guidebook for a happy, prosperous and balanced society.
Three things would seem to stand in the way of such a society being established and they are the age old problems of money, sex and power, or violence, to use the author’s definition. They are three aspects of life that concern every Kiwi and these are affected by the attitudes we hold.
Toward the end of this book George Bryant calls for a renewed society brought about by a collective effort to embody the key agreed moral values in everything we do. He writes…”Although most of us don’t dare to admit it, in the depth of our beings we long for a new moral voice, a voice that crosses all religions, cultures and political creeds. We are more concerned about the ‘spiritual’ state of the country that we are willing to confess publicly.” (End of quote)
This book closes with the question: How Can Christianity Be Saved? With the postscript: What Can I Do? It is rare indeed that I can review a book that I can recommend that everybody should read. Christian or otherwise. That our society, blessed as it is in so many ways, is on a slippery slope downward.
This book audits the present state of the nation, backed up with a wealth of factual evidence, traces the downward trends, suggests the reasons and makes many positive recommendations for the future. Five star plus reading.
“NEW ZEALAND WITHOUT GOD” by George Bryant is published by Whau Publications R.R.P. $27.95. (Distributed by GPH Wholesale & Castle Publications - ISBN 978-0-473-13952-0 Published in 2008)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studious of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 31st January 2009
Some suggestions as to how Christian books can be given wider exposure!
This week I would like to suggest several ways in which Christian books can used as witnessing tools in the community at large.
Back in November a Gideon friend in Hamner Springs asked if I could recommend a book suitable to be given as a prize at their nearby High School. It transpired that the Gideon’s in North Canterbury had decided to donate a Christian book for this purpose.
The principal had said the recipient would be a girl this year so I recommended a book I reviewed in February 2008 – “FRIDA – Chosen To Die. Destined to Live”, the autobiography of Frida Gashumba who survived the Rwandan genocide back in 1994, and later became a follower of Jesus. After training in the UK she gave her life to helping others who had also passed through the horrific trauma that she had.
As a prize in a secular school this was ideal because it was topical, happened within the life time of the recipient, opened with an account of pre 1994 life in Rwanda, detailed the horrific experiences of a young lady, again much the same age as the girl receiving it, and had a powerful Christian message later in the book.
Perhaps you, or your church, could donate a book, or books, as prizes at your local High School, obviously having first raised the suggestion with the principal. The prize could be for someone who had excelled in some way.
Another idea is to ask your local library to order in a book for you. A visit to your local Christian bookshop would enable you to see what might be suitable, and the staff would be happy to advise you. Take such details as the ISBN number, title, author and publisher and then, when you make your request at the library, you could say where you had seen the book.
Not only would you then be able to read it, though of course the shop would prefer you bought your own copy, but having it available on the library shelf would mean that it was there for others to read too.
Anti Christian factions are very active in making sure their viewpoint is being heard so Christians also need to make sure that suitable books are available in the obvious place where people go looking for reading material.
I borrowed Ian Wishart’s “THE DIVINITY CODE” from my local library but I did get the impression that it was the only library copy in Christchurch and it
had to be secured for me from another branch library. Maybe that was there because someone had asked for it.
Each Friday of term time those of us who teach Bible in Schools at a local Primary School meet for prayer in the school’s library. This is another place that suitably selected Christian books could be made available.
You, or your church, could donate books to secular school libraries. There is a huge range available from pre school right through to High School.
For my last Bible in School’s lesson for 2008 I used, as just part of the lesson Dale Tolmasoff’s, “This is No Fairy Tale”. This book is beautifully illustrated by Colbert Gauthier and compares what the story of the life of Jesus would have read like had it been just a fairy story.
Each page has several lines that suggest how each segment of the life of Jesus might well have read were if a fairy story. Then follows several lines explaining the truth about Jesus, His birth, upbringing, public life, death and resurrection. Suitable for children 5 to 10 I would suggest.
By way of illustration the first page reads…”If this were a fairy tale, Jesus would have been born in a big castle in a great kingdom. His parents would have been a king and queen, and all the people in the kingdom would have celebrated the birth of a new prince…but the truth is, Jesus was born to a poor family in a small country. In fact, he wasn’t even born in a house, but in a stable where animals are kept. And no one even knew except a few shepherds who came to see him.”
Another beautifully illustrated book for much the same age group is Max Lucado’s “YOUR SPECIAL GIFT”. This is a fairy story that has a Christian message running through it in the form of a parable.
The Wemmicks are wooden people, made by Eli, who, like Pinocchio come to life. They wake up one morning to find that they have each received a special gift about which they are very excited.
Each gift suits each person perfectly and as they each discover what these gifts are meant for, they realize it is something far greater than just being hammer or a spoon or needle and thread. When a cart with a broken wheel comes into town they discover that they are able to use their gifts to make a difference when a need presents itself.
Just two of many books it would be great to see in a school library. Just three ideas as to how you could make Christian books, and their message, available in the secular world.
Just some ideas suggested by John Ward as to how Christian books can be made more widely available recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 24TH January 2009
“GENERATION CHANGE” by Zach Hunter. Zondervan. $24.99
At the age of twelve he started a campaign called Loose Change to Loosen Chains. At fifteen he published his first book. In 2008 he published his second book “GENERATION CHANGE”.
Zach Hunter is a quite remarkable young man by any standard and his passionate concern for those held captive by modern day slavery is a challenge to us all.
He speaks to hundreds of thousands of people each year. This new book is a clarion call to a much wider audience. It invites young people in particular to roll up their sleeves and change the world.
Zach’s book is not all theory and hype. It is challenging and informative certainly, but it is more than that, because it offers tangible ways for today’s young people to make a positive contribution toward solving some of the world’s most crying needs.
In the process it is Zach’s desire that his readers discover God’s love for themselves and for people who are suffering. People in our world are hurting and dying by the thousand every day. But it can change. As Helen Keller is quoted as saying…”The world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming it.”
Dr. Wess Stafford, President and CEO of Compassion International writes in his forward to Zach’s book…”issues of justice and compassion aren’t add-ons for young people to consider. They are the natural extensions of women and men who seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and to love as he loved.”
Zach cites many different ways in which innovative young people are reaching out to the needy of this world. These examples make for some exciting reading.
The many subjects covered include the provision of shelter for the homeless. Justice for the oppressed. Zach’s personal definition of justice is righting or preventing wrong against somebody, whatever form that oppression might take.
In chapter four he considers the need for kindness. To some, he thinks, in this context of world need kindness might seem trivial. But he included it because he believes there is a shortage of kindness in Western culture today. He thinks of it as a ‘kindness drought’ that is having a huge effect on our world.
Chapter five deals with the subject of poverty because it is poverty that causes or adds to just about every other social ill discussed in this book. Poverty keeps people from a good education that in turn hinders the ability to gain employment. Poverty becomes the catalyst for slavery and human trafficking, homelessness, illness, crime and even terrorism.
An ancient proverb states…”He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.” Zach recounts how five committed young men founded an organization called “Dry Tears” to bring clean and safe water to people in Africa and, in so doing, are inspiring others to do the same.
The subject of chapter seven is education. The question is posed as to whether this is something afforded only to the privileged few? For many children in the West education is a chore with many actually hating school and some even play dumb because they think it isn’t cool to look smart.
Zach reminds hid readers that education is a privilege --- as well as a right for Western
children. Sadly, its not so in many parts of the world. Practical ways are suggested as to how children and young people in the affluent West can help this situation in third world countries.
Showing our appreciation by saying “thank you” for the good things we enjoy helps us to realize just how fortunate we are. Shauna founded an organization called “A Million Thanks” that encourages people to write letters of appreciation to members of the Armed Forces.
Where there is a lack of appreciation expressed people feel undervalued and as a result become less inclined to render the service they might otherwise have been enthused to do.
The need for clothing is the subject of chapter nine and the following chapter deals with hunger. One project uses one-of-a-kind bowls, painted by teens, and purchased by diners at Empty Bowls events and then taken home as reminders of the millions of people who will go hungry each day.
The remaining chapters deal with the subjects of Truth, the Environment, Creativity, Unity, Friendship and closes with the challenge that “Change Begins Now”…”For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“GENERATION CHANGE” by Zach Hunter is a Zondervan Youth Specialties publication. R.R.P. $24.99 (ISBN 978-0-310-28515-1 2008)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 17th January 2009
“WILD GOOSE CHASE” – by Mark Batterson. Multnomah $24.99
It is a brave author who will use what is usually understood as being negative as the title for a book that is anything but negative. A “wild goose chase” usually describes a fruitless search for something that was never found and simply proved to be a waste of time.
Mark Batterson uses these three words to mean something very different. At the very beginning of his book. “WILD GOOSE CHASE” he explains that the Celtic Christians of long ago had a name for the Holy Spirit that had always intrigued him.
They called Him “An Geadh-Gas” which means Wild Goose. Mark suggests that the name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit. There is an air of unpredictability about Him. The Holy Spirit cannot be tracked or tamed and Mark wonders “if perhaps we have clipped the wings of the Wild Goose and settled for something less—much less---than what God originally intended for us.”
The Christian life is intended to be a spiritual adventure, yet for many it has become boring, to such an extent that Mark wonders if even our guardian angels are yawning?
He suggests that many Christians are living such safe lives that not only are they bored but their guardian angels are too.
He uses the illustration of the difference between animals in the wild, in their natural habitat and animals in a zoo. Caged and confined and certainly not the way the Creator intended them to be.
Christians too can become caged. Mark Batterson poses the question… “If they could, would our guardian angels coax us out of our cage, and beg us to give them something dangerous to do!”
The author believes there are six such cages. The first is the cage of “responsibility” when we claim our responsibilities as being the reason for not responding to the call of God upon our life. When lesser responsibilities become excuses for not fulfilling greater ones.
“The Wild Goose chase begins when we come to terms with our greatest responsibility: pursuing the passions God has put in our hearts.”
The second cage is the “cage of routine”, being stuck in a rut. Routines
do have their place but again if routines kill our sense of adventure then it is time to disrupt our routine and get out of the rut.
There is also the “cage of assumptions”. This is when we limit what God calls us to do by saying we are too old, too young, not qualified enough, over qualified. It’s too late or too soon. When memory takes over from imagination and thereby putting an eight-foot ceiling on what God can do.
Then there is the “cage of guilt”. Excusing ourselves of, and focusing on the wrongs we have done in the past. Draining us of the energy to dream kingdom of God dreams. Looking back, as Lot’s wife did, rather than looking ahead to where the Wild Goose is leading.
The fifth cage is the “cage of failure”. Mark Batterson writes…Ironically, this is where many Wild Goose chases begin. Why? Because sometimes our plans have to fail so that God’s plans can succeed. Divine detours and delays are the ways God gets us to where He wants us to go.”
The final cage is the “cage of fear”. The Christian life is a call to adventure and danger. As Helen Keller said “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
All too often Christians are on the defensive. The world needs more daring people with daring plans that move out of the cage of fear and onto the offensive.
This outline is contained in chapter one. The chapters that follow takes an in depth look at each of these six cages and the way they inhibit our ability to chase the Wild Goose.
Mark Batterson illustrates what he writes in a very stimulating way. He quotes widely from the Scriptures, his own experiences of life, and the experiences of many others who have crossed his path during his student and ministry years.
He is the pastor of a very innovative church in WashingtonDC, he lives on Capital Hill with his wife and three children. Late last year I reviewed his book “In a Pit with a Lion of a Snowy Day” so when I saw this new book I couldn’t resist this challenge, and invitation, to reclaim the adventure of pursuing God.
“WILD GOOSE CHASE” by Mark Batterson is published by Multnomah, R.R.P. $24.99. (ISBN 978-1-59052-719-1 Published 2008. 184 pages)
Reviewed for Radio Rhema by John Ward and recorded by John Lindsay in the Christchurch studios of the Christian Resource Centre INTERNATIONAL.
Radio Rhema – “BETWEEN THE COVERS” – 10th January 2009
“Student Discovery BIBLE – A Journey Through God’s Word”
Thomas Nelson.
Last week I reviewed “Faith & Doubt” by John Ortberg. Faith is kindled through the truths of God’s Word, the Bible. Christian have been called “people of the book”. Not that we worship the book but rather we worship the One whom the book reveals.
To a large extent our faith in God rests on our trust in what He has revealed of Himself and His purposes in the Bible. But increasingly doubts are being raised as to the validity and reliability of this ancient collection of documents. Much of such criticism stems from ignorance, on the part of some, and downright dishonesty from others of its critics.
Knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, and the message it contains, is essential to faith. If we can’t trust the Bible can we trust the God it reveals?
It is a tragedy that books, of which there are many, which help a deeper appreciation and understanding of the truths of Scripture are not used to the degree that they should be by those who claim to be followers of Jesus.
Although produced for children aged 7 to 11 the “Student Discovery BIBLE” would be a primer for anyone who has limited understanding of the Bible, its meaning, message, and the way it has been put together.
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