Crazy Love Thoughts by Francis Chan
ecently, I’ve been casually reading through Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I say casually because I only have time to read it when I carve out some time for reading. Furthermore, I’m one of those people who begins way too many books. It’s kinda a running joke between Laura and I that start a bunch of books and seldom finish any of them. If I do finish them, it is usually months later. I guess that’s just the way I roll.
Anyway, things here in Alaska are going great! We are learning more about our sovereign God’s work of refining us for life and ministry. It is such a privilege to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords! I pray that as you read this today, that you will recall just how awesome our Lord’s work in our own lives truly is!
In fact, our God’s love is so great, that it is incomprehensible! This basically is the premise behind the book, Crazy Love. As I flip through the pages I am convicted by my all too often [Read the rest of this entry...]
by John Piper packs an insightful message into a brief delivery. Topping out at just around 100 pages, Piper delves into what he calls Christian Hedonism. In the progression of the book, Piper explains through careful textual inference the importance of seeking joy through our abiding in the riches of Jesus. He dispels the notion that Christianity promises an easy life free of troubles. He also refutes the duty-emphasis way of living a life for Christ’s cause. Rather, Piper emphasizes what Scripture emphasizes; a life found in complete joy. This joy is found none other than through a living relationship with Jesus. Piper guides us through Scripture, showing us that it is precisely through seeking and relishing in this redeeming joy, that we actually bring glory to our God. The book in it’s entirety really bases around this principle of glorifying God by seeking our satisfaction securely in Him. Much of the brief principles here are fundamental to John Piper’s widely-circulated book, 
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by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears comes as their second co-authored book in the “vintage” series. Their first related work was Amazon Vintage Jesus Title here, where they called believers back to the basic commands of Jesus. Carrying this throwback terminology yet once again, Vintage Church seeks to bring believers back to the central commands and tenants regarding the church. 
would be a great addition for your bookshelf!
by Bob Lenz aims to be a fresh look at God’s grace in a way that the average reader can grasp. Lenz, a motivational youth speaker, uses his passion for the Gospel and God’s grace to inspire youth toward positive change. Such change, Lenz explains in his book, can only come by accepting and living within the gift of God’s grace. While there is nothing really new with this “grace” book, it’s simple approach stands out from other similar works. Still though, I would recommend Lenz’s book on grace to any reader, although it seems particularly suitable for the youth group aged audience. I do, however, have one note of caution as you may read Lenz’s work. Several times throughout the book he seems to be a little more 
Francis Chan seeks to reverse the church’s all too often tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. Francis Chan builds off his first book, 
, bringing us a new and equally weighty topic. If you have been around any Christian bookstore within the past year or so, you like me, may have wondered about this newer author with the “crazy” book. As an experienced pastor in California, Chan brings his observations from his own study of Scripture and contemporary culture. Chan writes how his study of the way God works in ministry combined with the way our American churches operate began weighing heavily on his mind. He began to see, even in his own life and ministry, how easy it is to operate in life and ministry in a way that is unBiblically void of the Holy Spirit. Regarding this problem he writes, “People are more likely to describe the quality of the music or the appeal of the sermon than the One who is the reason people gather for ‘church’ in the first place.” (page 31). He further writes how anyone can assemble an energetic speaker and worship service that will attract a crowd. A pleasing crowd, however, does not equate to a successful church. The active agent is the Spirit of God; One who all too often is sorely lacking in many of our church scenes. Far too many churches operate in a fleshly manner that inadvertently places the Spirit in the back seat. Later Chan writes, 
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