When I learned this author was the same guy who wrote "unchristian" I was very excited to able to read his follow-up book. I was expecting a great book that demonstrated who the Christians of the future will be and also how the 18-35 crowd fits into the New Christianity.
The author explains how every 500 years, since Jesus, there has been a major shift in Christianity. 500AD was the fall of the Roman Empire and Constantinian Christianity. In 1000AD Roman Catholics and Orthodox split. In 1500AD, the Protestant Reformation occurred. Now at 2000AD, are we posed for a New Christianity? It seems likely, with the severe dis-interest in Christian churches by the next generation of 18-35ers.
This book falls flat and is slow, a bit boring, drags on, and never gives a good view of the future for Christianity. It's like the author had enough material for a short 5 page paper and he blew it into a book to make some dough. I was quite disappointed. This book goes into who the author thinks are the Next Christians. (Well, if he's right, I think, Christianity is in for more bad news, because I think this author misses the mark on this one). The author thinks the Next Christians are those who don't pull away from the world and live in a Christian-only world (like listening to Christian music only, no smoking, no tattoos, Christian-school, Christian-t-shirts) and don't lose themselves in the world as Cultural Christians (adopting the world's ways) but the New Christians are those who seek to restore the world to the beauty of the Garden of Eden and engage the world with beauty, grace and love. He defines the New Christian Restorers as having 6 characteristics: Being provoked, not offended; being creators, not critics; being called, not employed; being grounded, not distracted; being in community, not alone; being countercultural, not "relevant". I disagree with this author.
Being one of the 18-35, I feel like I understand very closely what my fellow 18-35ers are feeling and believing. I see Christianity moving away from organized religion and its human power struggles and corruption and towards a personal spiritual relationship with God. More and more Christians are ashamed of being called "Christian" and we are instead adopting the label "Spiritual" in preference because we can't stand to be associated with those judgmental hypocrites we meet at church. We are staying home and still very willing to be friends with and help our fellow non-Christians. I was disappointed with the author's conclusions and also that he wasted 6 boring chapters going into each of the 6 characteristics that he defines New Christians as holding. I believe the 18-35ers want to KNOW GOD above all else and want that spiritual relationship and everything else is just salad dressing. :)
I won't say the book was bad, because there is a place for this material, it's just not very inspiration or all THAT educational. I think most Christians could skip this book and do much better reading Skye Jethani's book "With" about living WITH God in a personal relationship, rather than living FOR God (achieving great deeds in God's name to give you self-importance). Also books by Frank Viola are very good for understanding why the new Christian generation cannot stand Christians. Also the book: "Why Men Hate Church" would be helpful for anyone interested in this subject matter.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion
Recommend: With by Skye Jethani
I barely got through reading this book. Normally, I'm a really fast reader and can bust through a book, but this book felt really dry and boring to me. There seemed to be a lot of repetition and the ideas weren't laid out in a nice neat order.
The material itself was quite enlightening and I feel like it was worth the read, but I wish so much someone would just sum this book up in a 2 page book report, rather than my having to spend days reading a dry book.
This book is about four different Christian worldviews: Life from God, life over God, live under God and life for God. Jethani explains each view in detail, dedicating a chapter and more to each of these worldviews. You end up seeing how you probably have a little bid of each of these worldviews in your life now or at least held these views previously. You can also see these views in all your family and friends and in other Christians. Jethani explains why none of these views is the view God wants us to hold. God wants us to life with God, not from him, for him, under him, or over him. If we can life life with God, this is where we will find Christian happiness and connect with God. It's the same idea that John Piper says "Make God himself your treasure" not the things you can get from God. Jethani explains how the 4 views are all ways of using God and getting things from God. But we are all guilty of using God. Using him to get to heaven, get blessings, etc. So this is a great book to give us understanding of ourselves so we can change our views and make sure not to use God but to love God for God Himself and enjoy life with God. I loved this idea that you get from the book. The knowledge part of the book was fantastic.
Unfortunately the writing wasn't so good. The author would touch on one four views, then move on to another, then come back to the first. He skipped all over and just his writing style is so boring. Maybe if this book was a short sermon or pamphlet, it would have been successful. But I think the author lost focus and drifted here and there and the book just dragged on. The first chapter was the worst most boring. I barely got through it. Once I saw the value in what I was reading, I was able to press on and get through it to gain the knowledge. But especially the beginning of this book was painfully written and certainly needed a lot of editing!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion
The material itself was quite enlightening and I feel like it was worth the read, but I wish so much someone would just sum this book up in a 2 page book report, rather than my having to spend days reading a dry book.
This book is about four different Christian worldviews: Life from God, life over God, live under God and life for God. Jethani explains each view in detail, dedicating a chapter and more to each of these worldviews. You end up seeing how you probably have a little bid of each of these worldviews in your life now or at least held these views previously. You can also see these views in all your family and friends and in other Christians. Jethani explains why none of these views is the view God wants us to hold. God wants us to life with God, not from him, for him, under him, or over him. If we can life life with God, this is where we will find Christian happiness and connect with God. It's the same idea that John Piper says "Make God himself your treasure" not the things you can get from God. Jethani explains how the 4 views are all ways of using God and getting things from God. But we are all guilty of using God. Using him to get to heaven, get blessings, etc. So this is a great book to give us understanding of ourselves so we can change our views and make sure not to use God but to love God for God Himself and enjoy life with God. I loved this idea that you get from the book. The knowledge part of the book was fantastic.
Unfortunately the writing wasn't so good. The author would touch on one four views, then move on to another, then come back to the first. He skipped all over and just his writing style is so boring. Maybe if this book was a short sermon or pamphlet, it would have been successful. But I think the author lost focus and drifted here and there and the book just dragged on. The first chapter was the worst most boring. I barely got through it. Once I saw the value in what I was reading, I was able to press on and get through it to gain the knowledge. But especially the beginning of this book was painfully written and certainly needed a lot of editing!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion
Turn To God With Your Problems
A dear friend of mine has been struggling a lot with life problems. He keeps trying to fix everything his own way. I've been encouraging him to turn to God because I know God is the only one who can fix it all. So please, let me also encourage you, my fellow believers, take your problems to God. Rely on Him and He will carry you. :)
God bless!
God bless!
Highly Recommend: The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris
Not knowing anything about this author, I picked up this book and began to read. It was great right from the start! It was about how everyone knows God and Jesus but forgets the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit IS the part of God and Jesus that you and I CAN KNOW, can talk to, can pray for us, can help us. The Holy Spirit is the part of the trinity that can be CLOSEST TO US. I was so excited to be reading about a book encouraging me to work on building my friendship with the Holy Spirit. I had never really heard much emphasis on the Holy Spirit, yet as this book points out, the Holy Spirit is God WITH US NOW. God is in heaven. Jesus is on his right hand. But the Holy Spirit is WITH US NOW!
The author goes into how the Holy Spirit can help us know what to say in difficult or uncomfortable times and also warn us not to say certain inappropriate things at times. The H.S. guides us through life and tells us to talk to so-and-so or take that job or go to that college or help that person or avoid that house, etc. The Holy Spirit is a super natural spirit guide. How can we know the WILL OF GOD? Through the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians never fully let the H.S. into their lives. They might let one foot in, but that's it. When we keep control of our lives, we struggle with sins and make poor life choices. If we were t0 let the H.S. into our lives, we could become so much more as Christians. We are always praying for God to be in our lives and help us, but we don't let God/the Holy Spirit truly into our lives to make these changes.
TONGUES: Author correctly interprets "tongues" as "languages". He explains the Greeks heard those speaking tongues as speaking Greek. Those who were from Crete, heard THE SAME PEOPLE speaking Cretan. (pg 72) "On the day of Pentecost, God removed language as a barrier from knowing Him."
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion
The author goes into how the Holy Spirit can help us know what to say in difficult or uncomfortable times and also warn us not to say certain inappropriate things at times. The H.S. guides us through life and tells us to talk to so-and-so or take that job or go to that college or help that person or avoid that house, etc. The Holy Spirit is a super natural spirit guide. How can we know the WILL OF GOD? Through the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians never fully let the H.S. into their lives. They might let one foot in, but that's it. When we keep control of our lives, we struggle with sins and make poor life choices. If we were t0 let the H.S. into our lives, we could become so much more as Christians. We are always praying for God to be in our lives and help us, but we don't let God/the Holy Spirit truly into our lives to make these changes.
TONGUES: Author correctly interprets "tongues" as "languages". He explains the Greeks heard those speaking tongues as speaking Greek. Those who were from Crete, heard THE SAME PEOPLE speaking Cretan. (pg 72) "On the day of Pentecost, God removed language as a barrier from knowing Him."
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion
Highly Recommend: A Place Called Blessing by John Trent and Annette Smith
I am not familiar with either author but decided to give this one a shot anyway. I didn't realize this story was a beautiful fiction novel about love without expectations. This book was so beautiful! I highly recommend it and am purchasing one for my sister. You will love this book.
The book is about a kid who has a very tough life. He grows up into a young adult with a very tough life and now also a lot of baggage from his childhood. A family tries to befriend him, but his childhood baggage keeps resurfacing and he finds it hard to believe someone would be nice to him without expecting something back. He is so sure that there is no such thing as a free gift or free hand in life that he turns from the gifts over and over. Finally, he learns about love. Real love with no conditions. Such a beautiful moving story and the authors did a fantastic job painting a vivid picture. Great piece of artwork!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion.
The book is about a kid who has a very tough life. He grows up into a young adult with a very tough life and now also a lot of baggage from his childhood. A family tries to befriend him, but his childhood baggage keeps resurfacing and he finds it hard to believe someone would be nice to him without expecting something back. He is so sure that there is no such thing as a free gift or free hand in life that he turns from the gifts over and over. Finally, he learns about love. Real love with no conditions. Such a beautiful moving story and the authors did a fantastic job painting a vivid picture. Great piece of artwork!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion.
Cannot Recommend: The Little Red Book of Wisdom
The reason I cannot recommend this book is because nearly everything in this book, you and I already know. We've all heard it before. We may not always listen, but we've heard it. I wish there had been some new big insights that we've all missed in life. I don't want to spend my time and money on a book that I already heard all its "wisdom" from somewhere else already!
Sure there are positive bits of wisdom in this book. Here are some examples:
- live life because it is short
- keep your focus in life and don't let temptations lead you off track
- under-promise so that you can suprise and over-deliver
- don't lose the lost art of letter writing
- always tell the truth.
- it all belongs to God
- appreciate God's gifts and how He got you where you are
- don't lose your integrity - you either have integrity or don't
- listen more than you speak
See? Nothing new.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exhcange for this reviewbut I really did give my honest opinion.
Sure there are positive bits of wisdom in this book. Here are some examples:
- live life because it is short
- keep your focus in life and don't let temptations lead you off track
- under-promise so that you can suprise and over-deliver
- don't lose the lost art of letter writing
- always tell the truth.
- it all belongs to God
- appreciate God's gifts and how He got you where you are
- don't lose your integrity - you either have integrity or don't
- listen more than you speak
See? Nothing new.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exhcange for this reviewbut I really did give my honest opinion.
Cannot Recommend: The One-Day Way by Chantel Hobbs
Like others who want to lose weight, I have tried many many books and none of them have helped me to lose weight. So naturally, I wasn't expecting a lot out of another book. And unfortunately, as much as I wish I could find a solution in a book, I am certain this book will not inspire many to lose the weight, just like all the other books.
Pretty much, this book is the same idea. Exercise. Eat healthy. Only difference is you are supposed to only do it one day at a time. Don't look to the future. Don't set a month goal. Just go one day at a time.
Well, as far as I'm concerned, that is no big revelation. Looking only at one day at a time isn't going to motivate me. It isn't going to give me the energy. It isn't going to make me stop eating healthy and it certainly isn't going to make me want to exercise!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion.
Pretty much, this book is the same idea. Exercise. Eat healthy. Only difference is you are supposed to only do it one day at a time. Don't look to the future. Don't set a month goal. Just go one day at a time.
Well, as far as I'm concerned, that is no big revelation. Looking only at one day at a time isn't going to motivate me. It isn't going to give me the energy. It isn't going to make me stop eating healthy and it certainly isn't going to make me want to exercise!
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for this review but I did really give my honest opinion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)