A Film You Might Have Missed: God Grew Tired of Us (2006)

A few months back I was talking to a guy from my church about films, documentaries in particular. He recommended that I see a documentary called God Grew Tired of Us. I thought that, if nothing else, it was an interesting title.

The film (directed by Christopher Quinn and narrated by Nicole Kidman) tells the larger story of southern Sudanese Christians who were driven out of their country by northern Sudan's Muslim Arabs during the second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005). Thousands of refugees walked over 1,000 miles to northern Kenya for sanctuary, where their hollow, emaciated bodies sought food and shelter. (I warn you: the footage in this section is graphic.) Relief does come to many; several of these "Lost Boys" are given an opportunity to go to America where they might work to rescue those of their families who remain behind.

Yet the smaller story of three of these boys (men by this time) is the main focus of the film. Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Bior get placed in Pittsburgh, John Bul Dau in Syracuse, NY. While in America, they will have to earn enough money to first pay for their airfare to America before they can help support their families.



From this point, God Grew Tired of Us becomes a multifaceted film that touches on themes of joy, cultural confusion, adjustment, loneliness, striving, unrest and hope. These men have no idea how to react to American culture. Some of them have never even experienced electricity. Without realizing it, the men point out some of the less attractive aspects of American culture. After one year in America, Panther comments, "In the United States, people are not friendly. You can find someone that's walking in the street by himself, you know, don't even talk, you know. You cannot go to the house of somebody you don't know, though you are all Americans. They call the police and say, 'why did this guy come to my house? I don't know him." In one of the film's most telling scenes, John looks in wonder at all the Christmas lights, Christmas trees, all the signs of commercialism and says (paraphrase), "There are so many ways to celebrate Christmas here... All our people have is Jesus Christ."

The camera follows these men for three years during which time they work two or three jobs so they can send money home. It doesn't take long for them to understand that people working minimum wage jobs can't get very far. In one scene, John sits down, tired from all his work, and reflects on what life was like during the genocide in Sudan. He's clearly thankful for his new life in America, but longs to see his family again. He realizes that because of the genocide (which at this point is still going on), this may never happen. When he was a boy of thirteen in Sudan, one of his jobs was burying the bodies of the slaughtered. "I began to think," John reflects, "that God had given up on us."

God Grew Tired of Us shows us all the things we take for granted as Americans. It shows us what it's really like to be a stranger in a strange land. And it shows us the lengths that some people will go to in order to provide for the ones they love. I don't want to tell you too much more; I'd rather you see the film for yourself. Be prepared for an incredible experience.

World of Faith and Freedom (NF 2008) - Thomas F. Farr

World of Faith and Freedom: Why International Religious Liberty is Vital to American National Security (NF 2008) - Thomas F. Farr (Hardcover, 384 pages, $29.95, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195179958) Available in stores, online, and on the Amazon Kindle.

The concepts of democracy and religious liberty are closely tied to our nation’s history, yet the State Department has largely left religion out in matters of U.S. foreign policy. Veteran State Department officer Thomas F. Farr’s book World of Faith and Freedom explains why and argues that religious freedom should be an indispensable element of our foreign policy.

Keith Pavlischek, Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (and member of SPEP) has written an excellent review of Farr’s book. His review, originally published in Touchstone Magazine, can be found here.

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town (2009) - Warren St. John

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town (NF 2009) Warren St. John (Hardcover, 320 pages, $24.95, Spiegel & Grau, ISBN 9780385522038) Available in stores, online, and on the Amazon Kindle.

What’s this? A book about soccer for this month’s book recommendation? Maybe I’ve been hanging out too much with Trip? Allow me to explain: Several of my friends (including Trip) are passionate about soccer. Since they’re my friends, and friends typically want you to share in their interests, they’ve tried to engage me in a love for soccer, alas, to no avail. So when I tell them I’ve just read this great book and that it’s a book about soccer, they’re quite skeptical.

I don’t blame them, especially since I’m still not that interested in soccer. But I am interested in people, particularly people from different cultures. I’m interested in how we all try (and mostly fail) to understand each other. Outcasts United is a book I care about because it forces us to deal with these issues on both microscopic and global levels.

Outcasts United is the story of the Fugees from Clarkston, Georgia, a soccer team (actually three teams of varying ages) made up of refugees from such war-raved countries as Liberia, Sudan, Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia...and those are just the African countries. It’s also the story of how a small Southern town handles the mixing of cultures into their small corner of the world. It’s a fascinating study of culture. The book is certainly making me examine my own reactions to people of different cultures. “What if all these people from different countries moved into my community? Would I be welcoming or fearful?”

Take that a step further. Would I be willing to share my faith with people from other cultures? Or try to understand theirs? Would I be willing to invite them to church? Even on a more fundamental level, would I be willing to simply talk with them? Or would I give in to local peer pressure and just ignore them?

It is impossible to read this book and not take a look at yourself. This is not a “Christian” book, per se, but it is a book Christians should read. Why? Because the Global Community is here and it can’t be ignored (nor should it be). Outcasts United is an engaging, humorous, sometimes sad, and often thrilling look at the challenges of living in that Global Community.

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (NF 2008) - Tim Keller

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (2008) - Timothy Keller (Hardcover, 160 pages, $19.95, Dutton, ISBN 978-0525950790) Available in stores and online.

At first glance you might think this thin volume from Tim Keller (pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City) would have more to do with spiritual growth than with culture, but the book provides plenty of richness in both areas. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is familiar to millions of Christians, but Keller expounds the Luke 15 text to show that this isn't just the story of the prodigal son. There's much more to it. (And what about the book's title? The Prodigal God? You'll have to read the book!)

Keller challenges both our spiritual and cultural assumptions of how we should look at God the Father and the ways we seek (or fail to seek) Him. When hearing this parable, we typically dwell more on the prodigal than the elder brother who did not rebel. But, says Keller, each represents a different way to be alienated from God.

But wait a minute! Wasn't the elder brother who stayed with his father more obedient? As Keller shows from Scripture, the two brothers are more alike than they first appear.

This is a fascinating, convicting, comforting and biblical look at a familiar text. The Prodigal God is a great book for private devotionals, group studies or discussion groups. Highly recommended.

Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be (NF 2008)

Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be (NF 2008) - Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck (Trade paperback, 256 pages, $14.99, Moody Publishing, ISBN 9780802458346) Available in stores and online.

Maybe you’ve heard of the emergent movement in Christian circles. Or maybe you haven’t, but have heard of some of its people. Names like Rob Bell (author of Velvet Elvis), Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), Brian McLaren (The Secret Message of Jesus) and others crop up in discussions of emergent leaders. Authors Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck are not emergent and although they see much good in the movement, they also see much danger.

The good comes in what the authors believe to be a genuine attempt by the emergent church to reach the lost. The bad comes in the form of their theology. It seems many emergents are seeking to reach unbelievers by convincing them that Christians and non-Christians alike are all on a sort of mysterious spiritual journey to discover God. That might sound like a noble effort, but too many emergents convey the idea that they’re searching for God without having found any answers and without the authority of God’s word.

DeYoung (senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) and Kluck (a writer for many sports venues including ESPN the Magazine) could both easily be mistaken for emergents. They’re thoughtful, young, and seeking to engage the diversity of our culture for Christ. Yet they’re not emergent. By a careful examination of Scripture and emergent theology, the authors show why they aren’t emergent...and why we shouldn’t be, either.

DeYoung’s chapters are somewhat academic (but very readable), closely examining the theological aspects and deficiencies of the emergent movement, while Kluck’s are more personable, reminiscent of a conversation you might have with a good friend. The combination of styles works well, giving the book a broader scope and depth than perhaps could have been achieved by a single author. For anyone who wants to know what the emergent church is all about, or for anyone who wants to engage the culture in a biblical manner, Why We’re Not Emergent is an excellent book.

Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children (NF 2008)

Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children (NF 2008) - Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD and Freda McKissic Bush, MD (Hardcover, $17.99, Northfield Publishing, ISBN 978-0-8024-5060-9) - Available in stores and online.


Our culture tends to think of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as the major risks involved with casual sex. After all, we constantly hear the stories, read the statistics and see the results of such a lifestyle. Yet now, breakthroughs in neuroscience have uncovered new information based on studies of brain function and sexual activity. This information could help us gain a better understanding of exactly what happens in the brain during sex.

Even if you’ve taken measures to practice “safe sex,” there’s one area you can’t protect: the brain. Doctors McIlhaney and McKissic give scientific evidence showing that when we engage in sex (or even prolonged close physical contact), chemicals are released in our brains, “telling” us that we’re forming not only a strong physical bond, but an extremely powerful emotional one.

When we break up with someone with whom we’ve had such strong physical and emotional connections (even briefly), those chemical bonds are severed, resulting in painful emotions. It’s like our brains have been short-circuited. Add to this already painful situation the fact that that our brains are not fully molded until we’re in our twenties, and you’ve got a situation that can lead to emotional devastation.

Hooked relies heavily on science, but the science is presented mostly in layman’s terms with a minimum of technical jargon. (Although anyone interested in learning more about the scientific aspects of the book can consult the plethora of sources in the Notes section.) The authors never specifically mention Christianity or faith (although I have seen the book in Christian bookstores), yet frequently touch on questions of morality. As far as I can tell, the authors are simply two scientists concerned with shedding new light on a topic that is both fascinating and crucial.

Hooked is a relatively short book (143 pages of text) and fairly easy to read, in spite of some brief scientific passages. Highly recommended.

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment - Tim Challies

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment (2007, Crossway Books) - Tim Challies, trade paperback, 206 pages including study questions, index, Scripture index).

Challies, a self-employed web designer, is the editor of a website and blog called Discerning Reader. His site is always filled with valuable, well-written topics of value to Christians, but his book on spiritual discernment is a gold mine.

It may appear odd that Challies begins with a story about counterfeit currency during World War II, but the illustration is a perfect introduction to a book on spiritual discernment. Many Christians often think they know the difference between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, good and evil, but without spiritual discernment you might as well be trying to provide for your family with fake money. Says Challies, “Scripture makes it plain: if you are not a person who exhibits and exercises discernment you are not a mature Christian.”

Make no mistake, Challies isn’t here to spiritually beat us up, but rather to challenge Christians to practice biblical discernment in every aspect of life. The author believes that discernment is both a gift (1 Cor. 12:4-7) and a responsibility (1 John 4:1). Some may have stronger gifts of discernment than others, but everyone can learn to be more discerning.

Practicing discernment has become a difficult task in our current culture, chiefly due to a dominant secular worldview as well as low views of Scripture, theology and God. I value this book not only as a call to personal spiritual growth, but also as a way to examine our culture.

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment takes the reader on a full-scale, yet highly readable journey through all aspects of biblical spiritual discernment: its definition, uses, practices, and yes, even its dangers. Each well-constructed chapter builds on a solid foundation of Scripture. I’ve encountered very few books this concise and yet this thorough. Challies is an excellent writer who has given Christians a book we really can’t afford not to read.

Logged On and Tuned Out (NF 2007) - Vicki Courtney

(Thanks to M. Prince for letting me know about this book!)

Logged On and Tuned Out: A Non-Techie's Guide to Parenting a Tech-Savvy Generation by Vicki Courtney is a short (197 pages including appendix and notes), easy-to-read introduction to the potentially widening gap that can exist between parents and their children as far as tech is concerned. As an introduction, the book is a good starting point, but concerned parents will want to know more.

Courtney, mother of three and founder of Virtuous Reality Ministries, relates in the book how little she knew about the tech world just a few short years ago. She's not alone. Many parents have absolutely no clue as to what's really happening on the Internet, the things you can do with cell phones, and the dangerous implications of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. If you're such a parent who's just coming to the cyber-table feeling just a little bit overwhelmed, this book is essential reading. Courtney will introduce readers not only to the fundamentals of Internet and cell phone technology, but more importantly how kids are using (and abusing) that technology.

In an informational book such as this, it's hard for writers not to tell us, "This is what I did to address this problem..." The problem is not only that Courtney's solutions may not work for you, but also that her relationship with her kids may not equal your relationship with your own kids.

And that's one of the biggest problems facing anyone reading the book, one that's not necessarily Courtney's (or the book's) fault: Before reading very far into Logged On and Tuned Out, you must examine the relationship you already have with your kids. This book isn't going to magically fix your child's cyber-problems if there are already underlying problems going on, mainly problems of communication and trust. Just read the book with that in mind. Remember, your success implementing the ideas in the book will depend largely on the relationships you already have with the members of your family.

I wished Courtney had discussed more of a progression of solutions. She doesn't say that Internet monitoring software is the only way to protect your children from the dangers of the Internet, but she sure gives it a lot of weight. I would have preferred more options, such as maybe placing the computer in central area such as the living room or kitchen where Internet activity can't be easily hidden.

Courtney does a pretty good job of describing some of the consequences of bad judgment via social networking pages, posting inappropriate photos and chatting online to strangers, but I fear some parents still may come away thinking, "Well, my child would never do such a thing!" Think again. I was hoping Courtney would give even more hard-hitting examples (especially in the area of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking) than she did.

I do recommend Logged On and Tuned Out, but only as a starting point. Read it, then do some research yourself, spend some time Googling some of the topics you read in the book, talk with your youth ministry leaders and other parents. Reading just one book won't make you an expert in parenting a tech-savvy youth, but at least it's a step in the right direction.