| Book Reviews CR August 10 |
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| Written by Staff |
| Wednesday, 15 July 2009 11:22 AM America/New_York |
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Make Love, Make War Brian Doerksen David C. Cook softcover, 256 pages, $14.99 978-1-434-76682-3
Doerksen bursts religious bubbles that would have the church "singing pleasant and happy" anthems instead of being "transparent and sharing our struggles"—he does the latter in this book. But he does more than chronicle the challenging life experiences that prompted his music and melodies—including having six children, some with special needs. He issues a provocative call to live a life of radical worship and to engage in spiritual warfare. Both are essential and can start with the music of the church, he says. Make Love, Make War is ripe for group study and discussion among worship leaders, songwriters and musicians. Chapters end with songwriting tips, adding practical application to theological ideas, which Doerksen presents simply and effectively. —Cara Davis Held Hostage Ken Cooper Chosen (Baker Publishing Group) softcover, 320 pages, $14.99 978-0-800-79456-9
Finally shot and captured in a botched Tampa, Fla., heist, he received a 99-year sentence. In prison, he found Christ's power doing extraordinary things like stopping the scourge of rapes in his cell block. After a few years, Cooper's changed attitude earned him an early release. —John D. Leatherman Breaking the Barriers Jason Frenn FaithWords hardcover, 256 pages, $19.99 978-0-446-54620-1
Three main pillars—the heart of the Father, the wisdom of the Son and the discipline of the Holy Spirit—Frenn explains, are essential in order to break barriers and overcome adversity. He also highlights the Christian discipline of prayer in overcoming life's challenges and speaks from personal experience in encouraging readers to rise above the trap of materialism. Breaking the Barriers is a helpful book for readers pursuing a more productive and successful life that glorifies Christ and reaffirms the call on their lives. —Heidi L. Ippolito Evangelism Today Scott Dawson and Scott Lenning Baker Books (Baker Publishing Group) softcover, 192 pages, $14.99 978-0-801-07133-1
The authors first tackle hurdles that keep Christians from sharing their faith, including fear, plurality of societal morals, hypocrisy and even being too unfamiliar with the doctrines of what they believe. They then present the importance of fulfilling the Great Commission, with scripture, personal asides and statistics. The book doesn't attempt to shame readers into participating, but rather gracefully helps them confront their own, often unfounded, hesitancies in being a witness. Evangelism Today presents a strong case for returning evangelism to its proper place of importance in the lives of Christians. Readers looking for inspiration and encouragement will find it. —DeWayne Hamby That Certain Spark Cathy Marie Hake Bethany House Publishers (Baker Publishing Group) softcover, 352 pages, $13.99 978-0-764-20320-6
Prejudiced by Taylor's lack of adhering to social standards, the locals will do anything in their power to persuade her to leave. However, she remains undaunted as a romance develops between her and the town's blacksmith. Although at times the story is not quite believable—such as when the author recounts, in my opinion, a more modern medical procedure than is appropriate for the period—That Certain Spark includes a wide range of sometimes inconsistent, yet altogether interesting characters, bringing an element of drama into an otherwise basic tale of romance and ultimately providing fans of this genre a relaxing read.* —Vickie B. Mathews *this review has been revised.
The Hope of Refuge Cindy Woodsmall WaterBrook Press softcover, 352 Pages, $13.99 978-1-400-07396-2
Ephraim Mast is shunned by his community when he obeys God's command to him, "Be Me to her." His sister Deborah experiences her own tragedy as Mahlon, to whom she is pledged to be married, leaves her, his mother, Ada, and the Amish way. Woodsmall's character guide will be helpful to those who may have difficulty tracking all of the names in the book's early chapters, but the story soon settles into a rhythm that will keep readers engaged. They will also learn much about Amish tradition and their perceptions of the outside world. —Christine D. Johnson The End of Secularism Hunter Baker Crossway softcover, 224 pages, $17.99 978-1-433-50654-3
Baker explains that "secularism means that religious considerations are excluded from civic affairs" because of their inherent bias. Yet the author astutely points out that secularism does not occupy a "neutral space"; instead, it is a partisan voice in a hotly contested arena or public square. The End of Secularism will mostly appeal to thinkers and intellectuals. It could also be used as a textbook in courses dealing with philosophy, worldviews, public policy and social issues. Still, the book will easily find a home beyond academic circles because it is clearly and crisply written. —C. Brian Smith |
In Make Love, Make War: Now Is the Time to Worship, Doerksen, writer of worship tunes including "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship," "Refiner's Fire" and "Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)," explains the stories behind 12 of his songs, some of which are more widely known than others.
Once known as the "gentleman bank robber," Cooper delivers a fascinating autobiography in Held Hostage: A Serial Bank Robber's Road to Redemption. Until his arrest in 1982, he led a double life, holding up numerous banks nationwide while traveling on legitimate business. After losing his young wife to cancer, Cooper rejected God and resumed his adolescent addiction to the adrenaline rush of stealing. He perfected a bank—robbing routine involving female hostages and stolen getaway vehicles—all the while working a series of respected jobs.
Speaker and author Frenn, a corporate sales representative-turned-evangelist, has witnessed many miracles. However, they were not necessarily of the extraordinary, earth-shaking variety, but mostly involved the simple miracle of a person pursuing God and seeing their life transformed. In observing such transformation, he explains what led to the changes in these lives in his new book, Breaking the Barriers: Overcoming Adversity and Reaching Your Greatest Potential.
Placing the "Great Commission" front and center, Dawson, an evangelist and missionary, teamed with Lenning to present Evangelism Today: Effectively Sharing the Gospel in a Rapidly Changing World. The pair share the results of hundreds of interviews with leaders about evangelism, with quotes from noted Christian leaders, including Luis Palau, Bill Hybels, Lee Strobel, George Barna and Leonard Sweet.
Hake spins a tale of boy-meets-girl in That Certain Spark. Taylor Bestman's choice to become a doctor and her twin's to become a veterinarian enables them to create a winning team. However, the two are not prepared for the challenges they face in setting up a practice in a small Texas town in the late 1800s.
Known for her "Sisters of the Quilt" series, Woodsmall returns with a standalone work, The Hope of Refuge. Young widow Cara Moore and her 7-year-old daughter live hand-to-mouth while attempting to escape the clutches of a stalker. The search for a peaceful life leads them to an Amish community, where Cara has more of a history than she realizes. Now she nearly spurns the only man willing to help her.
Nietzsche declared the death of God in the 19th century. The 21st century, in turn, has witnessed a vociferous cry from the New Atheists to eradicate religion. Now Christian scholar Baker has released the provocative The End of Secularism, tracing the evolution of secularism from the time of Christ.