Book Reviews

Book Review: “This Is Our Love” by Jody Cross

Chris

thisisourloveIf you attend church regularly, you probably take the time to sing at almost every service. Whether you use a hymnal or a projector screen, sing works by Martin Luther and John Wesley or Hillsong and Chris Tomlin, your musical expression is labeled as worship.

There is a great power in worship that we do not always consider or tap into. Worship – as a personal and corporate expression of the truths God, as well as thankfulness, adoration and praise – has the ability to change our way of life. As we confess those God truths and confess our need to align with them, we encourage ourselves to think with the mind of Christ, to see with the eyes of Heaven, and to allow our hearts to beat with Heaven’s heartbeat.

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Book Reviews

Book Review: “Revealing Jesus; A 365-Day Devotional” by Darlene Zschech

Chris

9780764211546 RevealingJesusAs a pastor I often mention that as Christians our lives should point to Jesus. Whatever we say, whatever we do, are our lives pointing to Him? At times life can seem so mundane and unspiritual. Yet we are called to shine the Light in the darkness, and that Light is Jesus.

So how do we do that? What parts of life point to Jesus? What does it look like from season to season, from good days to bad days, from solitude to spiritual community? Pastor and worship leader Darlene Zschech teaches us about these issues and more in her new devotional book, Revealing Jesus (Bethany House).

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Christian Living, Church Life, Ministry

Will You Serve Even If You Aren’t Chosen To Lead?

Chris

Life in the church can be complicated. It is painfully obvious, even to the unchurched. It is perhaps one of the reasons so many will visit a church one Sunday morning and then never return.

The church can at times be most complicated to those who feel they have something to give. A woman buys leftover children’s ministry materials in a closeout sale. A young man feels gifted in music and wants to lead the congregation in worship. A businessman believes his savvy and experience should earn him a seat at the leadership table.

balancing apples

But what if the desired contributions and roles that these folks hope for never materialize? Or what if someone else’s contributions and gifts are chosen instead of theirs?

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Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Uncomfortable Church” by Dr. Lawrence Brice

Chris

uncomfortablechurchOne of the largest issues embroiling our world and culture today has nothing to do with the environment, the economy or government scandals. Its importance strikes to the heart of the home, the family, the individual.

While it appears to be an administrative issue its core points to the legitimacy of existence. The hot-button issue of gay marriage is not just a referendum on the legality of a formal union between two people. The heart of the debate is not whether the union is acceptable, but whether the individual is.

The Church, of course, finds itself in a difficult position. At least, it should. How does the earthly representation of Jesus Christ love its neighbor while remaining committed to biblical principles? Is it even possible? With hopes of leading the Church along the best road, Dr. Lawrence writes to us about The Uncomfortable Church, asking in the subtitle, Can gays be reconciled to the Body of Christ?

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Bible, Christian Living

New Bible Study: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Chris

Earlier this year I led our church through a six-week study on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is a highly volatile and misunderstood element of the Christian life.

This weekend is Pentecost Sunday. To help you with your questions about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit our study is now available as a free PDF download. Explore the promise of the Baptism, its arrival on Pentecost and its continual outpouring, tongues as the initial evidence and the roles of tongues as revealed in Paul’s writings, and more.

You can use the reader below, or you can view and download the document on Scribd.com.

Book Reviews

Book Review: “Finding God in the Dark” by Ted Kluck & Ronnie Martin

Chris

9277 Finding God in the Dark_mck.inddTroubles. Pain. Heartache. Doubt. Darkness. We all face these situations, yet we never want to admit it. The closest members of our family might be in on the secret. The smiling faces and waiting handshakes at church rarely know.

And God … Well, we think God should know, and yet we wonder why He feels so absent. As tragedy unfolds in our lives He seems disinterested, living and operating far from where we hurt and struggle. Sometimes we push Him so far out of our lives that when we start to look for God He is not easily found.

Finding God in the Dark is written from these two standpoints. God seems or is distant, absent, unaware of or unmoving in our lives. How do we trust in Him during the difficult times? How do we point our lives back to Him when we have put ourselves in the way?

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