The Radical Pursuit of Rest by John Koessler

The Radical Pursuit of Rest by John Koessler ISBN-13: 9780830844449 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: InterVarsity Press Released: Feb. 1, 2016

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
We live in a culture that values activity, achievement and accomplishment. Whether in our careers, churches, schools or families, busyness is the norm in our lives, and anything less makes us feel unproductive and anxious.

John Koessler understands that rest is not automatic or easy to attain. He names the modern-day barriers to becoming people of rest and presents a unique perspective on how pursuing rest leads us to the heart of God. With honest, biblical reflections on trends in our culture and churches, he exposes our misconceptions regarding the concept of rest, as well as offering correction and practices to align our ideas with God’s ideal.

The book includes reflection and discussion questions designed for both individual and group use.


My Review:
The Radical Pursuit of Rest is about pursuing the physical and spiritual rest that's a gift from God. The author looked at Scripture's description of rest and contrasted it to the busyness and restlessness that our culture promotes. He showed how rest is a gift from but also a surrender to God as we must trust that our worth and safety does not depend upon our efforts.

The author discussed the Sabbath, Lord's Day, and worship as well as sloth, selfish ambition, and the fear of the unknowns in our future and in death. The book included questions at the end of each chapter and at the end of the book for individual or group study. Overall, the author was easy to understand. I did pause on occasion to think over what he'd said, but it was not due to confusion or lack of clarity. I'd highly recommend this thought-provoking book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Love Kindness by Barry H. Corey

Love Kindness by Barry H. Corey ISBN-13: 9781496411969 Trade Paperback: 234 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Released: March 15, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kindness is not what we have been taught it is. It is neither timid nor frail. Instead, it is brave and daring, willing to be vulnerable with those with whom we disagree. It is the revolutionary way that Jesus himself called us to live. The way of authenticity.

Dr. Barry Corey, president of Biola University, believes we tend to devalue the importance of kindness. We forget that the essence of what God requires of us is to "love kindness." In this book, filled with stories from his travels around the globe, Barry shows us the forgotten way of kindness. It is a life of a firm center and soft edges. It is the life Christ invites us to follow, no matter what the cost.


My Review:
Love Kindness could also have been titled "Barry Corey's Acts of Kindness." It's a memoir centered around the theme of kindness. I was expecting the style to be more like a Bible study or sermon, so I was surprised that every story mentioned the author and most where about his own acts of kindness. It didn't come across as bragging as he didn't always come away looking good. I think he was just trying to show what kindness looks like in action.

Each chapter contained two or three verses from the Bible and a story or two of kindness. He started by talking about what biblical kindness is, and it isn't just "being nice." He then focused on certain elements of kindness: genuineness, humility, listening to those you disagree with, showing Christ's love, being fully present when spending time with someone, seeing others as God sees them, avoiding hypocrisy and being willing to acknowledge our mistakes, encouraging others using our time and knowledge, hospitality, not expecting anything in return, and other-centered.

The book was an easy, quick read, and he made some good points. I'd recommend this book to those interested in biblical kindness.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World by Brian C. Stiller

An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World by Brian C. Stiller ISBN-13: 9780764217272 Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: Jan. 19, 2016

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cutting ourselves off from Christians around the world is not an option. In many countries, the rise of persecution fuels concern over the safety and rights of believers, while other nations that used to be closed to the Gospel are seeing unprecedented numbers of conversions to Christianity. As global ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance, what Dr. Brian Stiller experiences on the ground in these nations is often counter to our impressions.

An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World includes country-specific insights calling us to a deeper understanding of the Christian church and witness. Each chapter also provides prayer challenges that come from believers in the country as well as maps and sample prayers. Nations from every continent are included. Take part in God's work by praying for the real needs of your brothers and sisters around the world.


My Review:
An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World described 41 countries and 11 ministries and suggested specific prayer needs for each. The selected countries are places the author has been during his work with the World Evangelical Alliance. Each section started with some information about the country's history and such. The author then described what he encountered when he visited (which wasn't always recent), specific groups at work or God's work in general in the country, or further details about a defining moment in that country's history. He ended each section with a Bible verse, items for prayer, and a suggested prayer.

This book can be used alone or with a small group. If you're not familiar with the challenges that Christians face in other countries, this book provides a good overview without overwhelming a person with too many countries.

The countries covered are: Somalia, South Africa, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Albania, Romania, China, Syria, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Japan, Egypt, Rwanda, South Korea, Honduras, Colombia, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Laos, Lebanon, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Malaysia, Kenya, South Sudan, Greece, Burma/Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Palestine, Czech Republic, Philippines, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia.

The ministries or topics that get their own section are: World Vision, Prison Ministry, Bishop John, Evangelist Nick, World Prayer Movement, Persecution and Martyrdom, The Pope, Muslims, Community of Sant'Egidio, International Prison Fellowship, Mexican Prisons.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Renovate by Léonce B. Crump Jr.

Renovate by Léonce B. Crump Jr. ISBN-13: 9781601425546 Trade Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Multnomah Books Released: Feb. 16, 2016

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
God is not wiping this world away. He is in the midst of renovating it. Léonce Crump, lead pastor of Renovation Church in the urban core of Atlanta, invites you to do what God did when He wanted to make a difference in this world – move in.

Whether you’re a pastor looking to plant a church, a missionary preparing to serve in a far-off land, a family preparing to move into a new community, or a follower of Jesus simply looking to engage more deeply in your current neighborhood, Léonce reveals how our agendas can often sabotage achieving real change in our world. Léonce and his family found that, before we can preach or reach others, we must first know the story of a place and its people – especially since skin color, cultural norms, and economic status often isolate us more than bringing us together.


My Review:
Renovate is about becoming an active part of your community. It's mainly targeted at people who live in big cities. The author advocates putting down roots (rather than moving frequently) and getting to know an area's past and present so you can effectively impact the future. Instead of coming in to do what you think needs to be done, you discover what the locals want and need to help them flourish. He talked about avoiding classism, racism, and gentrification.

But much of the book was a look at Scripture to argue that our faith should have social as well as spiritual aspects. He argues that the belief that we will "go to heaven" has focused our efforts on saving souls while ignoring the physical world. He argues that there will be a physical world after Christ returns, so we should join now in God's restoration of his [physical] world. That God will remove the infection of sin from the world and bring about a complete healing of creation.

While I agree that the Scriptures talk about a "new heavens and a new earth," I understand that to mean "new" not just "fixed up" or "disinfected." Yet I think other verses support the idea of helping improve people's physical circumstances along with meeting their spiritual need for Christ. I have put down roots and gotten to know my community. I live in a rural area without a lot of diversity, though. I was disappointed that I didn't get much useful to my situation out of the book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh

The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh ISBN-13: 9780830879694 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: InterVarsity Press Released: Nov. 9, 2015

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak." ―James 1:19

How would our lives change if we approached every experience with the intention of listening first? In this noisy, distracting world, it is difficult to truly hear. People talk past each other, eager to be heard but somehow deaf to what is being said.

Listening is an essential skill for healthy relationships, both with God and with other people. But it is more than that: listening is a way of life. Adam McHugh places listening at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships and our mission in the world. God himself is the God who hears, and we too can learn to hear what God may be saying through creation, through Scripture, through people.

By cultivating a posture of listening, we become more attentive and engaged with those around us. Listening shapes us and equips us to be more attuned to people in pain and more able to minister to those in distress.


My Review:
The Listening Life is about truly listening to God and to others and how this can transform our relationships. The author started off by describing why good listening is important. He looked at Scripture to see how people listened to God and how God listens to His people. This section reminded me why I love my God so much: our God listens!

He talked about listening directly to God and to God through Scripture, creation, and other people. He described bad and good ways of listening to others. Not rules but more starting with a right attitude. He also discussed listening to yourself (in a biblical way) and suggested how different church would be if people knew they would be heard, not preached at.

The book had a casual tone with a cadence that was pleasant to read. He looked at Scripture, but he also suggested ancient Christian practices and things he's found to help as he's learned to be a better listener. I'd recommend this book to those who want to build closer relationships with God and people.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Reading Romans in Context by Blackwell, Goodrich, Maston

Reading Romans in Context edited by: Ben C. Blackwell, John K. Goodrich, Jason Maston ISBN-13: 9780310517955 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Zondervan Academic Released: July 28, 2015

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Readers of Paul today are more than ever aware of the importance of interpreting Paul’s letters in their Jewish context. In Reading Romans in Context a team of Pauline scholars go beyond a general introduction that surveys historical events and theological themes and explore Paul’s letter to the Romans in light of Second Temple Jewish literature.

In this non-technical collection of short essays, beginning and intermediate students are given a chance to see firsthand what makes Paul a distinctive thinker in relation to his Jewish contemporaries. Following the narrative progression of Romans, each chapter pairs a major unit of the letter with one or more thematically related Jewish text, introduces and explores the theological nuances of the comparative text, and shows how these ideas illuminate our understanding of the book of Romans.


My Review:
Reading Romans in Context is an essay collection that looked at various themes found in Romans and in Second Temple Jewish literature. Paul sometimes counters an argument that he apparently believes will be brought against his teachings, but it's not always clear what that argument is. By looking at Second Temple Jewish literature (like the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of Philo or Josephus), we can discover what other Jews around that time were teaching. The authors compare these to Romans to find similarities and where the teachings diverge.

The authors had a good understanding of Paul's teachings and used the comparison to add insights and nuances to our understanding of Romans. I found the essays interesting, especially the one on distinctive food habits. I didn't have any trouble following their arguments. There was a glossary in the back, but the terms were defined well enough in the text that I never needed to use it. I'd recommend this book to those interested in this topic.

Phrases and themes that were studied were: "son of God," God's wrath and divine justice, circumcision and covenant identity, "works of the law," "righteousness of God," the faith of Abraham, suffering of the righteous, death through Adam, slavery to sin or to righteousness, the Law's role, evil desires, human glorification linked to death, why God blesses or curses a person, righteousness by law vs. by faith and one's ability to keep the Law, Gentile inclusion, right living--self mastery vs. divine enabling, how one should interact with the government, distinctive food habits, God's role in our giving to the poor, and women in church ministry and leadership.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

100 Names of God by Christopher D. Hudson

100 Names of God by Christopher D. Hudson ISBN-13: 9781628622911 Hardcover: 208 pages Publisher: Rose Publishing Released: Oct. 21, 2015

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
In the 100 Names of God devotional, readers will be renewed with a deeper sense of hope as they are lead to the very heart of God and the good news of who he is. From Adonai to Jehovah-Jireh, each of the daily devotions covers: 1 specific name of God (such as Elohim); its meaning; encouraging explanation and inspirational reflection; other related Scripture and cross references and a personal question, prayer, and practical application.


My Review:
100 Names of God is a daily devotional containing 100 devotions. Each devotion is 1-2 pages long, so they don't take long to read. The author did a good job of leaving me with insights to think about throughout the day. Each devotion covered a name of God from the Old or New Testament and started with that name along with a verse where that name is used. The author explained how this name provides important insights into God's character. He clearly explained his points and provided background information when needed. He ended each devotion with a prayer and a question prompting the reader to see how these insights impact your life.

I really enjoyed this devotional and plan to read through it again. I'd highly recommend it.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Count It All Joy by David Jeremiah

Count It All Joy by David Jeremiah ISBN-13: 9781434708755 Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: David C Cook Released: Feb. 1, 2016

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The apostle Paul wrote his most personal letter while abused and abandoned in a Roman prison. He wrote to believers who lived in the shadow of the Roman tyrant, Nero. And yet this letter, Philippians, is the most joy-filled epistle in the Bible.

Weaving together modern stories and historical detail, Dr. David Jeremiah explores Philippians verse by verse, showing us what it means to be joyful in spite of circumstances. Whatever you are facing today, Count It All Joy will inspire you to find the joy that Jesus promises.


My Review:
Count It All Joy is a Bible study on the book of Philippians. Each chapter started with a couple of paragraphs from Philippians, which the author then worked through going verse by verse. He usually started with a sports-related modern story, and he frequently quoted insights from other authors. He did word studies, rephrased verses "in plain English" so the intent was clear, included background information, and quoted similar verses from other parts of the Bible. There were study questions (and suggested activities) at the end of the book for small groups or personal study.

This study did provide me with some insights into the verses that I hadn't considered before. However, some parts of the study felt disconnected due to the frequent quotes and serial word studies. The verse was not re-quoted when being examined, so sometimes I'd lose track of what the verse specifically said or how the insight into word meaning clarified a point. This didn't happen very often, but it would have been nice to have the verse under examination written again where it was being examined.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who are interested in studying Philippians and who like this author's style.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.