Coming Soon to the Resource Center

Here are just a few of the books coming soon to the church Resource Center (All copy from book cover wraps):

Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest - Edward T. Welch

“Worriers are false prophets - that insight alone was worth the price of the book, but far, far more awaits the wise reader who explores this brilliant book by Ed Welch. Ed tells our story of fear and worry with compelling honesty and depth. But even more, he invites us to see how our loyal God refuses to abandon us in our fear; instead, he allows our fear to reveal our fragility and desperate need for his presence. I was not only informed and moved by this book, I was invited to worship. This is not merely a book about fear; it is an invitation to a transformed view of God.” - Dan B. Allender, President and Professor of Counseling, Mars Hill Graduate School

Christian Confidence: An Introduction to Defending the Faith - Chris Sinkinson

Philosophy, archaeology and science are hot topics in Christian circles, perplexing many believers about how these issues relate to faith. Fortunately for us, Chris Sinkinson has investigated these areas and gathered historical Christian perspective. The result is this accessible introduction to apologetics, which enlightens minds and inspires confidence. Christian Confidence is a one-stop shop for anyone desiring to engage thoughtfully and persuasively in the difficult conversations surrounding faith in the twenty-first century. 

Green Leaves for Later Years: The Spiritual Path of Wisdom - Emilie Griffin

Emilie Griffin, author, teacher, spiritual director, writes in her seventy-fifth year. In these pages she reflects on the beauty and the difficulty of aging. Pain mingles with gratitude. With her we learn again how to draw close to the Lord who longs to guide us through. Ideal for both individuals and discussion groups, each chapter ends with reflection questions and a prayer. Discover a spirituality that will sustain you in the later years. 

More New Arrivals for Mid-January

Coming soon to the church Resource Center (All copy taken from book jacket/cover wraps):

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work - Timothy Keller

With deep insight and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about our work. In fact, the Christian view of work - that we work to serve others, not ourselves - can provide the foundation of a thriving, professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others and even be considered acts of worship - not just self-interest.

Why Business Matters to God - Jeff Van Duzer

This book explores the nature and meaning of doing business and finds it calls for much more than most think. Jeff Van Duzer presents a profoundly Christian approach that integrates biblical studies with the disciplines of business and economics. Looking beyond the place of ethical principles and the character of the individual, Van Duzer displays a vision of business that contributes to the very purposes of God.

Meditation and Communion with God: Contemplating Scripture in an Age of Distraction - John Jefferson Davis

John Jefferson Davis helps us recover the practice of meditation on Scripture as he explores the biblical and theological foundations rooted in the arrival of “the age to come” in Jesus Christ. Davis gives us fresh and practical guidance on removing the obstacles that block our fellowship with God and listening to Scripture in ways that can enrich our worship, faith, hope and love.

Glimpses of a Greater Glory: A Devotional through the Storyline of the Bible - David H. Kim

“Many books are now coming out on ‘faith and work’ - but I know of none like this. David Kim gives us a way to reflect on our vocations and our lives in light of the gospel and the Word - in prayer before the face of God. There is deep theology here but it is not a textbook, but rather a devotional guide. Unique - I recommend it!” 

- Tim Keller, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church

New Arrivals

Here are four books coming into the SPEP Resource Center soon (all text comes from each book's cover wraps):

This Ordinary Adventure: Settling Down Without Settling - Christine Jeske and Adam Jeske

In This Ordinary Adventure, Adam and Christine Jeske mine their experiences, from riding motorcycles across Africa to dicing celery in Wisconsin, in search of the God who is always present, changing each day with potential. In reading about their wrestling, you'll see your life - your ruts and routines, your frustrations and exhilarations - through different eyes. Maybe settling down doesn't have to mean you settle for anything less than Amazing Days. 

The Bible Questions: Shedding Light on the World's Most Important Book - Hal Seed

In The Bible Questions, Hal Seed demystifies the Bible's origins, giving insight into how it came about, why it's organized the way it is and what the various parts point to as a whole. Read The Bible Questions and come away with a new appreciation for the Bible's true mystery, never hidden but wild beyond belief: that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son for us. 

Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith - Michael Reeves

In this lively book, we find an introduction to Christianity and the Christian life that is from start to finish rooted in our triune God - Father, Son and Spirit. Not only do we understand the person and work of Christ through the Trinity, but also prayer, the church and every aspect of our faith.

With wit and clarity, Reeves draws from church history down to the present referencing a wide range of notable teachers and preachers. Here is a rich and enjoyable portrayal of the basic beliefs of Christianity that opens up the profound and life-changing truths of our faith.

Short-Term Mission: An Ethnography of Christian Travel Narrative and Experience - Brian M. Howell

Anthropologist Brian Howell explores the narrative shape of short-term mission (STM). Drawing on the anthropology of tourism and pilgrimage, he shows how STM combines these elements with Christian purposes of mission to create its own distinct narrative..... He discerns how participants remember and interpret their experiences, unpacking the implications for how North American churches understand mission, grapple with poverty and relate to the larger global church. 

The Best of 2012 in Books

Early in 2012, I challenged the congregation of my church to read at least three books throughout the year, books having to do with some aspect of the Christian life. Many people shared those books with me, so now I want to share with them (and you) some of the best books on the Christian life that I encountered in 2012:

When I am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety (2010) - Edward T. Welch

Although meant to be a companion workbook to Welch’s Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God Rest, this short book actually stands on its own, covering what for many Christians are real problems: anxiety, worry, fear and depression. If you don’t want to tackle the larger book, or if you’re not sure how much anxiety, worry, fear and depression are a part of your life, this book is for you. 

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (2010) - David Platt

I have talked to Christians who both love and hate this book. Radical does have some problems and maybe could’ve been presented more carefully, but Platt is more concerned with challenging our ideas about the American Dream and helping others than he is with being too careful. Sometimes that approach works to his detriment, but for me, this book challenged the way I think about helping others and in particular how I think about missions. 

A Praying Life (2009) - Paul E. Miller

Absolutely essential. This book has transformed my prayer life in ways I could never have imagined. Whether your own prayer life is solid, non-existent, or somewhere in between, read this book. 

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books (2011) - Tony Reinke

Anyone who loves reading will enjoy this book, Christian or not, but it is certainly geared toward Christians. The author’s passion for reading (and not just Christian literature) is evident on every page. Reinke addresses not only those who love to read, but those who hate to read, those who want to read more, those who read only Christian literature, and.... well, just about everybody else.  

A Kingdom Called Desire: Confronted by the Love of a Risen King (2011) - Rick McKirley

“How?” is the question most Christians ask. The question we should be asking is “Why?” Not, for instance, “How do I get what I want?” but “Why do I want what I want?” This book will open your eyes to what you really desire most. 

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness (2012) - Timothy Keller

A short, but powerful look at what our lives should really be about, and it’s not ourselves: it’s others. Keller doesn’t mess around and he doesn’t mince words. A very short book you can read in an hour, but will stick with you long afterward. 

This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence (2009) - John Piper

Anything by John Piper is worth your time and this book is no exception. We've often heard about marriage being a picture of Christ's love for the church, but that teaching is usually given in haste without a proper contemplation of all it implies. Piper corrects all that here. My only quibble is that Piper sometimes tends to belabor some points and rush through others. Still, an excellent resource on marriage.

Crying for a Vision and Other Essays (2007) - Steve Scott

British-born musician and poet Scott combines his deep love of Scripture with a deep love for the arts in a series of exceptional and sometimes challenging essays on how Christians should engage and support artistic endeavors. 

Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach (2006) - Vern S. Poythress

I thought my head was going to explode during parts of this, but it was certainly worth the effort. Poythress is - odd as it may sound - a Christian with very high views of both Scripture and science. Christianity and science, says Poythress (with doctorates in theology and science), are not antagonistic, or at least shouldn’t be. An astounding book, but be prepared to expand your mind. 

Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom & Discernment (2009) - Brian Godawa

Previous thoughts here. 

Republocrat (NF 2010) - Carl R. Trueman

Previous thoughts here. 

Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches That Make Disciples (2010) - Jim Putnam

My good friend Trip gave me this book, which is an excellent examination on how to help people in and out of the church as they grow spiritually. Putnam puts all Christians into one of four categories: spiritual infants, spiritual children, spiritual young adults and spiritual parents. It’s a humbling read, but biblical and very practical for all Christians, not just those leading or mentoring others.

Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate (2012) - Justin Lee

I could write pages on this one. Whether you’re Christian, gay, both or neither, you should read this book. Honest and heartfelt, Lee delivers a stunning look at what it was like for him growing up both Christian and gay. I may not agree with all of Lee’s logic and Bible exegesis, but I greatly admire his courage, honesty and faith. Like me, you may not agree with Lee, but this book could very well become a needed bridge in understanding how to engage the gay community.

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World (2012) - Timothy Keller

Yes, Keller is good enough to place two books on my list. (I could’ve included a third!)

If you’ve ever wondered about how you can be a Christian and suffer through working for an absolute jerk, this book is for you. If you’ve thought that work is a necessary evil, this book is for you. If you love your work, this book is for you. No matter what your relationship to work, Keller’s book is an eye opener. (And any book that starts with a quote from John Coltrane can’t be bad.)

That’s it - the best books I read this year on Christianity. Let me know what you read.  

Genesis for Normal People (2012) - Peter Enns, Jared Byas

Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible (2012) - Peter Enns, Jared Byas

Patheos Press, 136 pages

Trade Paperback ISBN 9781939221032 $12.99

Kindle eBook $8.99

Stories are not waiting to be molded to fit our experience. They are waiting for us to take the risk of entering the world of story and be changed by it.

Too often readers go to the Book of Genesis to prove a point. Maybe that point is a scientific one about how the world really began. Maybe someone is seeking to discover what happened to the dinosaurs. Or maybe someone else just wants to discover how mankind could so royally mess things up. Authors Peter Enns and Jared Byas waste no time in telling us that Genesis is, by and large, a story, not a scientific textbook, not an exhaustive account of creation, and certainly not a book of irrelevancies for the 21st century. It’s a story of relationships, specifically the relationship between God and the people He created. 

Since it’s the first book in the Bible, Christians usually go to Genesis to start our “Read the Bible in a Year” (or longer, in my case) plans. Inquisitive Non-Christians looking for answers tend to start there, too. For both groups of people, things can get confusing if not downright frustrating. 

What makes reading Genesis so frustrating is the fact that we are living in the 21st century, looking at the story with 21st century eyes when we should be trying to focus on what the book’s ancient author was trying to convey to ancient readers and hearers. The book’s original audience didn’t care about the Big Bang or dinosaurs. They didn’t even know the world was round, for cryin’ out loud! They needed to know who they were as a people, that their faith was in God and that God was going to see them through, no matter what. God was there in the beginning, He will be there in the end and at every stop along the way. And He will not give up on His people. 

The fact that the authors are able to shift our paradigms in just a little over 100 pages* is remarkable. For seasoned Christians, the tone of the book may be a little off-putting; while Enns and Byas want you to think like an ancient, their writing style is pure 21st century casual: non-technical and humorous, bordering on irreverent. But for non-Christians, this style might just put them at ease, showing them that Genesis is the first part of a Bible with 65 other books showing how God’s people sometimes just don’t get it and need lots of reminders. Being a person who often doesn’t get it (If you doubt that, just ask my friends and family.), I appreciate the reminders. 

In many ways, ancient Israel’s weaknesses are our weaknesses. Genesis is just the beginning of a long story that chronicles Israel’s struggle with God, its faith and belief that ultimately, God can be counted on and will see us through from beginning to end and beyond. 

And it’s our story, too.     

4/5

*(The eBook version I bought includes a study guide with questions for individual or small group use. I have not seen the print version, but assume it includes the guide and questions as well.) 

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.