Giving Church Another Chance
Kaleidoscope
Wildflowers of Terezin
Yesterday's Promise
The Map
My Bangs Look Good
A Positive Life
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| Book Reviews CR March 2010 |
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| Written by Production |
| Friday, 05 February 2010 04:00 PM America/New_York |
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Todd D. Hunter IVP Books (InterVarsity Press) hardcover, 176 pages, $18 978-0-830-83748-9 Hunter, founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Orange County, Calif., shares his journey of despair in Giving Church Another Chance is in no way a tirade against the church. Rather, it is a call to re-engage spiritual practices and live in the way of Jesus. Simply put, Hunter writes for the disaffected believer: the "de-churched" and "re-churched." Readers of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson will appreciate Hunter's contribution to how spiritual disciplines fit within the context of communities and bodies of believers. In the midst of our frenzied culture and harried pace of life, Hunter reminds us that speed is not the greatest good. Instead, deep, lasting change and transformation is the goal, with church the springboard to that end. —C. Brian Smith
Patsy Clairmont Thomas Nelson hardcover, 208 pages. $16.99 978-1-400-20270-6 Popular author and Women of Faith speaker Clairmont takes a lighthearted look at the Christian life in Kaleidoscope: Seeing God's Wit and Wisdom in a Whole New Light. In 33 chapters—with such titles as "The Tube of Mirrors," "Barnyard Wisdom," "Stretchmarks" and "Sewing Kit for the Heart"—she delves into everyday issues for busy women. In a style that is totally Clairmont, the author mines the book of Proverbs and discovers the wisdom she believes God has for women today. She addresses topics aiming to reveal truth in relationships, everyday lives and health. Although humor is found on every page, there is also insight, prayerful advice and deep scriptural knowledge. Kaleidoscope could be used as a devotional, but would also be enjoyable for use in women's meetings or casual reading. For women who would better understand the Christian life and enjoy a personal relationship with their heavenly Father, this book is an excellent read. —Beth Anderson
Robert Elmer Abingdon Press softcover, 352 pages, $13.99 978-1-426-70192-4 In the international flavor of his youth series "Young Underground," Elmer's latest stand-alone novel Wildflowers of Terezin is the story of a young nurse and a pastor who risk their lives to protect the Jews in German-occupied Denmark during World War II. Pastor Steffen Petersen begins to see how his world is dramatically changing when he finds himself caught in crossfire on the streets of Kobenhavn. While being treated for his injuries at Bispebjerg Hospital, Steffen meets Hanne Abrahamsen, a striking young Jewish nurse full of compassion. Days later, rumors of Jewish deportation bring Hanne to Steffen's church, seeking a hiding place for her family. Though Steffen usually finds comfort in his pastoral duties, his faith comes alive when he helps those truly in need. Wildflowers of Terezin is based on actual events during the German occupation in Denmark. Readers will appreciate the historic value of the novel, while the characters bring life to both the sorrows of war and the joys of love reunited. —Bonnie Bruner
Vanessa Miller Whitaker House 208 pages, $9.99, 400 pages 978-1-603-74207-8 Author and playwright Miller addresses the women-as-preachers debate in her latest romance novel, Yesterday's Promise. Lead character Melinda Johnson knows at a young age that God has called her to preach alongside her father, Bishop Johnson. When he retires and appoints her ex-fiancée, Steven—now a widower with a young child—as pastor and bishop, it reopens old wounds. While dealing with the rejection brought on by her father's choice, she finds out that her father hopes she and Steven will reconcile. But it doesn't help the situation when Steven proclaims he still does not agree that women should preach. Yesterday's Promise goes beyond the traditional romance and gives a descriptive example of the communication barriers between men and women relating to love, career, ministry and family. —Nicole Anderson
David Murrow Thomas Nelson softcover, 244 pages, $14.99 978-0-785-22762-5 Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church, outlines a man's spiritual growth guide in The Map: The Way of All Great Men. The map is a metaphor for how Jesus' ministry is highlighted in the Gospel of Matthew. The first third of the book recounts the international treasure-hunting intrigue that supposedly led Murrow to the figurative "map." The author then reveals the story is fiction, but mines it for examples and illustrations. Murrow observes that in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus undergoes three journeys to spiritual maturity—submission, strength and sacrifice. Submission's journey, up to the Sermon on the Mount, embraces traits Murrow classifies as feminine—giving, forgiveness and mercy. Strength's journey, ending with the Last Supper, focuses on Jesus' more masculine traits—righteousness, pride and anger. His final journey of sacrifice turns feminine again as He renders the ultimate act of service. In the book's final third, Murrow suggests how much of contemporary Christianity stifles men by overemphasizing the feminine journey of submission. The Map is intriguing reading for men seeking to advance spiritually. —John D. Leatherman
Susanna Foth Aughtmon Revell (Baker Publishing Group) softcover, 192 pages, $12.99 978-0-800-73418-3 In My Bangs Look Good & Other Lies I Tell Myself, Aughtmon reflects on the lies she has believed that have hindered her spiritual walk. Geared toward young adult women, the book shares the author's own journey of how she came to know the truth about God. Aughtmon examines many misunderstandings about God, such as the idea that He is vengeful, that He owes His children something or that He cannot hear those who cry out to Him. Disputing these myths, she points to the truth, sharing many inspiring stories such as the story of Mary who was visited at a young age and told the most outlandish thing she had ever heard. This is an encouraging book for young women seeking to push past the myths that have bogged down their Christian walk, remove the cloak of fear and step out into a faith-filled life. —Heidi L. Ippolito
Shane Stanford Zondervan hardcover, 224 pages, $19.99 978-0-310-29292-0 In A Positive Life: Living With HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father, author and pastor Stanford is straightforward in his tell-all book of living with—not dying of—chronic disease while leaving the results up to God, an attitude that has seen him living 20 years past his doctor's original expectations after his diagnosis at age 16.The journey propels readers on a rocket ride through Stanford's childhood home in Mississippi, dealing with hemophilia, the spires of Duke University, secret hotel meetings with officials about ordination, golf, the inner workings of the United Methodist Church, hospital stays and much more. Through it all, he addresses the stereotypes and stigmas that often accompany HIV. A Positive Life is a guide on how to grow as a man, father and pastor, in crisis, while living with chronic disease, and is for anyone wanting to see God's grace and unconditional love at work. The Bible study and resource guide at the back is helpful for church leaders of all denominations as well as for people looking to grow in compassion and love. —Andrealynn Boyd |
