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 amiss motivation behind the things I do in life. It is far too easy to slip into a guilt-driven, action-based mentality, rather than a passionate motivation stemming from an enthrallment with Jesus and God’s indelible grace! Furthermore, it is far too easy to slip from an absolute trust in God’s sovereign, active work in our everyday lives. Think about it for a moment. Life is filled with interesting moments. Sometimes in the consistent pace of the daily grind, we lose sight of what it really comprises life. Likewise, in the more arduous times of life, we lose sight of what really comprises our lives.

I think Chan hits the nail on the head in chapter three when he reflects on Jeremiah 1:6-10 and Ephesians 2:10. These passages are such a great reminder of our God’s sovereign work in all aspects of our lives!

Check them both out! First, Jeremiah 1:5-10,
“5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,?and before you were born I consecrated you;?I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;?for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,?and whatever I command you, you shall speak.?8 Do not be afraid of them,?for I am with you to deliver you,?declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.?10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,?to pluck up and to break down,?to destroy and to overthrow,?to build and to plant.”

And then second, Ephesians 2:10,
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Chan writes how God reminded him of these truths during a personal retreat time alone in the woods. He writes on page 58, “My next thought, alone in the woods, was that He determined what Jeremiah would do before he was even born. I questioned whether that was also true of me…Then I remembered Ephesians 2:10, which tells us that we were created ‘to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ That verse is meant for me and all others who have been ‘saved by grace through faith.’ My existence was not random, nor was it an accident. God knew who He was creating, and He designed me for a specific work.” Later on page 60 Chan writes, “God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine.”

How often do we in our daily lives take matters into our own hands? How often do we allow circumstances (expected or unexpected) to cause us to worry and stress? Maybe you are always like a rock in your security in God’s consistent good work in your life. But, if you are like me and honest with yourself, there are likely those times when you revert to a self-centered mentality regarding the circumstances in life. Recall those things that happen in life that cause you to worry and stress. Maybe they’re not even really “big” things. Maybe it’s just one of those busy, ridiculous days at work when nothing seems to go right. In that moment it’s so easy to worry and stress over your circumstances. Then there are also the “bigger” worry/stress triggers in life. Lastly, when life is smoothly going along, we may not worry or stress, but we can still easily lose the heart attitude of resting our sole security in God’s sovereign rulership in our lives.

Where is our security anchored? You may initially respond…of course, it’s rooted in God. But, is it really? I think so often, we kid ourselves. How often is our security wrapped up in our own “grip” in life and in how we are handling our responsibilities and circumstances?

When God showed up in Jeremiah’s life in the outset of the book of Jeremiah, I think Jeremiah was forced to deal with this heart issue. Where did his security rest? When God showed up with His pre-ordained mission that would drastically change Jeremiah’s life and circumstances, his response revealed the common response of many of us. How Lord can I? or… There’s no way! …or You have the wrong person? or… Why me?
The events that would transpire through Jeremiah’s life as he followed God’s leading, would be God’s good, pre-ordained path for his life.
Likewise, Paul alludes to God’s pre-ordained good plans for we the redeemed in Jesus today. We like Jeremiah are called by God to live out His good purposes in life. We are called to have our security firmly rooted in His sovereignty. We are called along with the list in Hebrews 11 to walk by faith.

Well, I guess I’ll end this random blog post by encouraging you to refresh your heart’s perspective regarding it’s security in God. Everything that is unfolding in our lives yesterday, today, and tomorrow is orchestrated by our sovereign God, and we are pre-ordained to walk in union with our Jesus.

In His Grace,
Derek

The Dangerous Duty of Delight: Daring to Make God Your Greatest Desire (LifeChange Books) 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, Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.

Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus) 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.

Each author currently serves in church/teaching ministries in the Pacific Northwest. While Mark Driscoll is very controversial to some, I believe his heart, ministry, and writings depict a fellow redeemed follower of Jesus plugging away for God’s Gospel purposes in a specific cultural area. I find that most who criticize him have not actually listened to his sermons or read his books. I’m not saying that we will all agree with everything that Driscoll does or writes or that he is perfect (duh!), but I am saying that I believe you should give his writings a chance. This is just my opinion, and I write these reviews as such. I just felt I needed to briefly include this caveat about Driscoll, in response to some who would steer clear of his stuff solely because of what they’ve heard. Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus) in my opinion stands as a fantastic resource for those involved in church ministry today! It even can be very helpful for those not involved in full-time church ministry. It is so easy to just slip into the rhythm of doing “church” without really passionately knowing what the church is and why it exists. Probably the one thing I appreciate most about this work is it’s primacy given to Scriptures. Every aim on every page is passionately rooted in the Bible. Well, there is much I could write about what I appreciate in this book, but I will only include a few more noteworthy points.

Topping out at just over 300 pages, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus) poignantly reminds us what Scripture upholds as the church’s mission throughout the history of our world’s cultures. After dealing with some basic issues involving the fundamental basics of a church, the book also addresses many practical issues like polity, the nature of preaching, baptism and communion, unity, church discipline, love in the church context, the missional nature of the church, multi-campus and video-venue options in church, and types of technology available for church use. Driscoll and Breshears close their fresh look at the church by widening our focus back from the practical outworking aspects to a broader view of the church’s mission. They close by addressing the church’s ability and function in changing culture and thereby transforming the world. The example is given of a deplorably dirty river in a heavily populated third-world country. In the last chapter they write, “Instead, the only hope was a complete transformation upstream wherever the filth originally entered the river.” (page 288) They continue by comparing the dirty river to the stream of culture and the dirty river’s headwaters to our world’s cultural gatekeepers. The majority of people find themselves downstream simply living amidst this cultural stream. They emphatically urge the church to return to a missional focus on reaching the cultural gatekeepers (what they apply as the city) and thereby affect the world’s various cultural streams among the masses. The case is made that the Bible’s storyline began in a garden and will end in a fully redeemed city. They also mention God’s Old Testament dealings with Israel revolving around the city Jerusalem. Furthermore, although the disciples came from more rural regions and backgrounds, their involvement in the birth of the church and it’s expanse through the New Testament period depicts a church planting movement with it’s epicenter in the major cities. The implication is that to reach the masses with Jesus’ redemption, the church must not primarily focus on rural regions. Driscoll and Breshears seem to infer that the church’s primary focus in mission should be on the world’s main city hubs, thereby reaching the cultural/people-mass headwaters and outflowing to the masses in the world’s rural regions. Much could be written on these thoughts contained in the last chapter. I assume some who read this summary will agree and others will disagree. I personally see Driscoll and Breshears’ point in emphasizing the church’s urban focus. I just don’t know if I completely agree with all of their philosophical reasoning and some of their conclusions. Like any book, we must always read with discerning minds and be willing for God to show us things we may not always understand at first.

I especially appreciate the way Driscoll and Breshears close the book. Amidst the great mission and challenges facing the church (as just discussed Biblically, philosophically, and practically through 300 pages), we can easily feel overwhelmed. Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus) closes with this encouraging declaration, “Jesus is alive. Anything can happen.” (page 305)

I would definitely recommend Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus) for your next bookshelf addition. Additionally for those interested, they now publish a vintage church study series targeted for small groups or pastoral staff.

Vintage Church Study Series Here:

The Don’t Waste Your Life Sentence DVD depicts the lives of those within Louisiana’s Angola prison complex. Angola is one of the nation’s most secure and criminally severe prisons, comprised with the nation’s most severe sentenced inmates. Many of these individuals’ sentences are a life-term and some of them await a death-row sentence. In this seemingly hopeless context, God’s redemption is working in the hearts of these convicted felons; our fellow depraved man. Desiring God, a teaching/writing ministry of John Piper, seeks to herald the Gospel of Jesus throughout our modern-day world. Piper’s primary focus in his ministry is calling people to a supreme affectionate focus on Jesus. One related theme through his preaching and related books is the warning, “Don’t Waste Your Life.” Using this theme, Piper through the publishing work of Desiring God Ministries brings us visually into the Angola Prison to see first-hand some of the redemptive miracles God is doing in this often overlooked missionfield. The DVD centers on a message John Piper delivered to the inmates chapel period regarding Jesus as the Bread of life in John 6. The message is complemented in various places with real-life interviews of redeemed Angola inmates. Through and through the passion of the DVD is to warn youth and adults alike to not waste their lives on vain, wordily pursuits. The message of Don’t Waste Your Life Sentence DVD loudly calls all of us redeemed (inmate or not) to take our eyes off of worthless objects and affix them supremely on Jesus. I would highly recommend this 30-40 minute DVD for anyone really, but especially those involved in youth ministry, group counseling, or prison ministries. Also, there is a bonus feature section with Piper’s full message and a poignant question and answer session.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a pastoral conference on prayer. I think the truth that struck me most was found in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Throughout all of my life, is that really my true one desire? It’s so easy to just read over that verse, but to really understand it and apply it is quite another thing!

The conference also afforded many opportunities to expand one’s Biblical resources library. The video below samples some of these books, while the links below show just a small sampling of other great books. These are books that I didn’t buy, but I jotted them down for future reference. I trust that maybe some of these resources can be an encouragement to you!

Derek

So, I was recently going through my library and came across a great commentary on the book of Romans. I read Douglas Moo’s work on Romans back during a class I took a few years ago. Coming from one who absolutely loves the book of Romans, I thoroughly enjoyed Moo’s treatment of this doctrinally-rich book! Topping out at just over 1,000 pages, it truly is an exhaustive collection of thoughts. Many regard Romans as difficult to grasp due to it’s high emphasis on doctrinally-deep truths. I firmly believe Romans should be one of the believer’s favorite books in the Bible. There are so many incredible, Jesus-exalting, grace-centered, humbling, redemption-filled, spiritual-growth, etc.. truths chalked throughout it’s inspired pages. So, if you are looking for a great commentary that treats Romans in a very deep and exhaustive manner, Moo’s The Epistle to the Romans (New International Commentary on the New Testament) would be a great addition for your bookshelf!

Grace: For Those Who Think They Don’t Measure Up 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 ecumenical for my comfort level (specifically regarding Catholicism). Keeping that in mind, Lenz still does Biblically handle the actual teaching of grace in a very relatable, accurate, and even rebuking way.

I’d like to close out this review with some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Has the central focus of our Christianity been Christ, the man, God in the flesh? Or has our central focus become morality? I wonder if living right has replaced our passion, our relationship, and our intimacy with Jesus.” – p. 112

“Human nature would rather have a good life-style and average faith rather than a life of brokenness overflowing with faith.” – p. 176

“The only solid Rock I can build my hope on is Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I am still amazed by that kind of grace–it truly is indescribable.” p. 183

“Our redeeming God is a brilliant Artist–and you are His masterpiece. Take a step back and see yourself from His perspective, His vantage point, His eyes–the eyes of grace.” – pp. 226-227

“…allow the world to taste grace through us.” – p. 224

“I beg you; please don’t backslide to your own good works. Walk in, and live by, grace.” – p. 223

So, if you are interested in reading more about God’s grace in an easily digestible form, consider picking up a copy of Bob Lenz’s Grace: For Those Who Think They Don’t Measure Up as your next addition for your bookshelf. Although it tops out above 200 pages, it is a really easy read. It may also serve as a good resource for families with teens or youth groups desiring to get their teens to read some grace-living-related resources.

In Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit Francis Chan seeks to reverse the church’s all too often tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. Francis Chan builds off his first book, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, 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, “I spent years asking God to be part of whatever I was doing. When I read the book of Acts, I see people privileged to play a part in what God was doing.” (page 155) While the Spirit is sorely missing from many of our churches, all too often we as believers inadvertently disregard His proper place in our own individual lives.

I especially appreciated Francis’ focus on Scripture, stemming his points securely from this foundation. While there aren’t tons of Scriptures cited as footnotes (that could have better supported his main points), he does mention many main passages throughout his actual writings as he develops his points. Still though, I respect the way he places the emphasis on Scripture rather than his own thoughts. For example, he mentions Acts 4:13. In this passage Luke tells us that the apostles’ life and ministry reputation was that they had been with Jesus. What an incredible reputation! May that truly be our desire; that others who see our lives explain what they see by our identity in Jesus. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promises to build His church, and in Acts we see the Spirit infused fulfillment of this promise. It is the Spirit of God that mightily worked God’s incredible plan of redemption in the early church, and it is the same Spirit Who works through the church today. In another example of the Spirit’s defining work, Chan mentions 1 Kings 18:29-39. Here Elijah prays and God reigns down fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal. Their response is not, “wow, that Elijah guy is a great speaker or connects really well with God!” Rather, they respond in recognition and awe at God Almighty’s power. How often do we walk away from our churches and recognize, not the skilled leadership or music, but the actual work of God Almighty? Finally as the last Scripture example I will mention is James 5:17. Here James comments on Elijah’s normality. This Elijah, who we see in the Old Testament doing some incredible works, James tells us was a normal man like us who fervently prayed and saw God work. James encourages us, even in our modern context, to focus and rely solely on God’s power. We serve the same God as Abraham, Noah, Elijah, Ruth, David, Daniel, Esther, Peter, and Paul.

The Scriptures mentioned above are just a few Scriptures included in Chan’s book that especially struck me as incredibly applicable to my own life and ministry context. I would really recommend Francis Chan’s Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Don’t expect a deep theological treatment of the Holy Spirit as doctrine. Rather, expect a relatable and convicting application of Holy Spirit-related Scriptures to our current world. Also, keep in mind that the book takes a little bit to develop steam. It starts out really interesting, slopes off a bit as you approach the half-way mark. Keep reading though, as the thought progression and Scriptural punch picks up in the latter half of the book. So, click the included links and pick your copy up today. By the way, it really is a captivating and easy read; totaling just over 200 pages. If you are interested in studying through the book together maybe as a small group study, the publisher also offers a study guide and recently-produced corresponding teaching DVD.

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

Remembering the Forgotten God: An Interactive Workbook for Individual and Small Group Study

Forgotten God DVD Study Resource

• ISBN13: 9781601421517
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

 
What will you build your life on?
 
With startling transparency, Joshua Harris shares how we can rediscover the relevance and power of Christian truth. This is book shows a young man who rose quickly to success in the Christian evangelical world before he realized his spirituality lacked a foundation—it rested more on tradition and morality than on an informed knowledge of God.
 
For the indifferent or spiritually numb, Harris’s humorous and engaging reflections on Christian beliefs show that orthodoxy isn’t just for scholars—it is for anyone who longs to know the living Jesus Christ. As Harris writes, “I’ve come to learn that theology matters. It matters not because we want to impress people, but because what we know about God shapes the way we think and live. Theology matters because if we get it wrong then our whole life will be wrong.”
 

List Price: $ 19.99

Price:

Whether you are just exploring Christianity or you are a veteran believer finding yourself overly familiar and cold-hearted, Dug Down Deep will help you rediscover the timeless truths of Scripture. As Harris challenges you to root your faith and feelings about God in the person, work, and words of Jesus, he answers questions such as:
 
What is God like and how does he speak to me?What difference does it make that Jesus was both human and divine?How does Jesus’s death on the cross pay for my sins?Who is the Holy Spirit and how does he work in my life? 
With grace and wisdom, Harris will inspire you to revel in the truth that has captured his own mind and heart. He will ask you to dig deep into a faith so solid you can build your life on it. He will point you to something to believe in again.Kevin DeYoung Reviews Dug Down Deep

Kevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He is the author of Just Do Something and The Good News We Almost Forgot. He is the co-author of Why We’re Not Emergent and Why We Love the Church, both of which won the Christianity Today Book Award for the church/pastoral ministry category. Read his guest review of Dug Down Deep:

I didn’t know Joshua Harris could draw cartoon monsters. I didn’t know his father, homeschool pioneer, was once a prodigal, guitar playing hippie. I didn’t know Harris was obsessed with Ira Glass and fascinated with the Amish. And I didn’t know that the crazy dream about the filing cabinets and Christ’s forgiveness–a Bunyanesque story we’ve used in worship before–was a real dream, and that Josh really dreamt it.

All this I learned in Harris’s new book, Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters. More importantly, I learned (or, perhaps, was reminded) that Harris is a skillful writer with a knack for making complicated truths accessible. This is not a book that breaks new ground in systematic theology; which is no knock on Harris, because he doesn’t intend to break new ground. Instead, he wants to dig deeper into the familiar ground right under our feet.

Many people know Harris as the guy who likes to talk about dating. First, he kissed it goodbye, then he said hello, then he tackled lust, and most recently he told us to stop flirting with the church and become a member already. See a theme? But if you think Harris is just a dating guru, you’ve really missed what he’s become in the past ten years. By God’s grace, Harris is now a humble husband and father, church pastor, sought after conference speaker, and, for the first time in five years, an author with a brand new book. Dug Down Deep still showcases Harris’s ability to spin a good yarn and connect with his audience through personal narrative and vulnerability. But it is also full of solid truth–simple, biblical teaching on God, Jesus, salvation, sanctification, and the Holy Spirit. Dug Down Deep is Harris’s attempt at “humble orthodoxy.” It’s a winsome call for Christians to care about theology, understand theology, and not beat people up with theology.

Joshua Harris is a gracious man with a love for truth. Not surprisingly, then, this book is full of truth, delivered with grace. If you or someone you know is tired of swimming in the shallow end of the pool, Harris will be a gentle hand pulling you into deeper waters. If you find theology (and those who love it) distasteful, this book will offer good doctrine with a spoon full of sugar. Teens, young adults and those attracted to a Christianity too cool for convictions will do especially well to read this book.

Joshua Harris has put the cookies near the bottom shelf. And that’s good, because they’re real good cookies, and he serves them up warm and ready to eat. –Kevin DeYoung