Crazy Love

Crazy Love
by Francis Chan
paperback, 187 pages
2008

I have heard about this book for a while, in fact, a house church, different from ours, chose to study it together when we lived in Thailand during our 2009-2011 time.  One of our kiddos left it in the closet when they went back to college so I decided to give it a read.

The good of the book: it is so practically familiar.  The bad of the book: is is so practically familiar.  Francis Chan is a public speaker as a pastor, a conference guest, and although I have only heard him once (on the video he recommends his readers to watch in the opening chapters of his book), I feel that he does a great job in verbally holding the attention of his audience and effectively communicating his views.

The book is broken down into 10 readable chapters and is devotional as well as seeks to inspire Christians to put to action their faith due to God's great love through Jesus.  Filled with Biblical quotes, quotes from heroes of the faith, and glimpses of lives lived well, Francis Chan combines these with his own personal convictions to convey what really following Jesus could lead to.  I like a quote he shares at the end of the book by Annie Dillard, "How we live our days... is how we live our lives" (pg 165).

This book is a wake-up call.  And when we wake up to the goodness of Jesus we can not help but want more of Him and be more like Him and this will change our thinking and our actions for good.  Crazy Love is about both individual revival as well as the renewal needed within the church universal.  We do not need to remain lukewarm.  Abundant life is available, just like Jesus says, to all who trust in Him.  Here is a somewhat radical idea to ponder tucked away on in a paragraph on page 166: "I urge you to consider and actually live as though each person you come into contact with is Christ."

In the last pages there is a brief interview that gives further insight into Francis Chan concerning the book, the church and life. Even if you do not read the book, (which I would recommend for not yet Christians, for new believers and for those mature in their faith, and I think it would be beneficial to read with a friend or in a group), then take a few minutes to read the interview.  It was worth my time to consider what seem to be well thought through replies to good questions.

The Fitting Room

The Fitting Room

Putting on the Character of Christ
by Kelly Minter
2011
paperback 206 pages (which includes notes and useful study questions at the back)

As people chosen by God and dearly loved just how are we to dress?  Good question, and Kelly Minter does a good job of answering it chapter by chapter as she describes and gives insight (both scriptural and personal) into the virtues put forth in Colossians 3, mainly honing in on verses 12-15.  I am thankful to our ladies mission prayer group that meets on Tuesdays at noon and to the wonderful teaching that comes as each of us expounds further into a character trait we are to joyfully grow in. (i got to teach on forgiveness, and like always, God teaches you a lot as you prepare to teach).

This all would be totally overwhelming, the idea that we NEED to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, not to mention filled with peace and joy.  But the truth is, due to the reality that as God's children we are so loved by Him, that it is not a "i have to wear that and i don't want to" but it is replace with "i get to wear this and it looks great on me!" kind of mind-set change.  Changing what we "put on and live out" makes all the difference. Just like our physical clothing we are intentional with what we wear, it takes being intentional to choose patience over hotheadedness, or compassion over selfishness, etc.  You don't go to a wedding with your old sweat suit under your formal gown, and so it is you need to take off (and throw away) old useless ways of going about living...and you can because God loves you and has a better, more satisfying way for His children to live.

I highlighted the bits of Kelly's book in pink in the spots where she brought other helpful scripture into the concepts of putting on the character of Christ, and i'm happy to say there is quite a bit of pink in the book.  This to me makes the message more reliable.  It is an easy to read kind of book, not weighing you down with     guilt, but lifting up with hope and i think it will be one i will keep on the shelf, to refer to and recommend.

One Thousand Gifts

One Thousand Gifts
One Thousand Gifts
a dare to live fully right where you are
by: Ann Voskamp
2010
hardback, 237 page if you count the notes

In keeping with reading only books that have come to me recommended, i knew for a while that i wanted to read this one with the blue eggs in the nest on its cover.  I bought a copy (before i read it) for Melanie's 50th birthday thinking that 50 gifts would be cool, a thousand gifts would be way cool. Then our church (HFBC) had a ladies retreat and Kelly Matte, our pastor's wife did a session about it, but as i was not there, i do not know what she taught.  i checked it out of the church library but then got too busy with writing to read it.  I did read the first few pages and put it down quick as the raw description of birth and then the death of a child was too much for me.  Then i got sick, i thought instead of laying around, i will lay around with a book and because so many thought i would like this one, i picked it up again.  That is saying a lot before i say anything, i know. 
So, the book.  It is poetically written, yet touches on points like a good spiritual disciplines book should, so if it were mine it would have underlines in it.  It is a story, but one that is not in any hurry of getting anywhere and in the end, other than a trip to Paris (that may have been better off left as personal journal rather than included in the book) you really do not have a sense of arriving as far as story resolution goes.  But there is big resolution in the process that one homeschooling mom of six living on a pig farm in Canada goes through in her way to God, in her journey to fully trust Him.  She comes upon a word  eucharisteo meaning to give thanks and uses it page after page in her growth process in how this really unfolds. All boiled down one might say living a life of gratitude leads to living a full life of joy.  I would certainly agree.   The part that goes along with the title and with the journey is that she counts gifts... the little things that make up life, and she writes them down.  And she does so poetically.  On page 83 she reaches gift number 1000. Resurrection bloom, an amaryllis, a gift a year in the coming in reference to her mother-in-law's gift of a plant before she died of cancer.  There are lots of pages left for further discovery and the author uses her life as the class room of this growth into the goodness and blessings of God. At the end there are five pages of footnotes to give credit to authors and reference to books she has quoted in each chapter, so one has good resources if they would like to go deeper in an area. 
i liked the book and think it would be one that i would really have enjoyed reading in a book club where more could be expounded person to person after each chapter read.  At the end the reader is invited to join an on-line club to get even more information on how to live fully, complete with photos.  Many praise her book, and for good reason.  

Taking the Word to Heart

 Taking the Word to Heart
Five Ways to get a Grip on God's Word
by Nancy Taylor
paperback 70 pages
2009

As the end of 2012 was drawing near, i had been thinking through just how i wanted to journal the journey of 2013.  One thing that kept coming up was this idea of trying to memorize Scripture so i thought maybe i would journal the process.  I had heard about a woman at our church, Nancy Taylor, that had written a book about how she went about it, and one day her husband, who works with Russell, gave me a copy of her book.
I thought through the reasons for why i would want to take on something that seems huge to me (really knowing the Word and the reference for where it was) and jotted down what would be gained, starting with closeness to God, obedience, wisdom for my life and others, a way to grow in the character of Jesus, have ammunition against the enemy, a fresh look at God's faithfulness and how my trust in Him would increase.
I began Nancy's book and was delight on how she touched on these motivations and then gave a well-thought out tried and true plan for how to make these goals a reality.
This short book, brought to mind advice given in years past, but also fresh outlooks and techniques including getting the Word not only in your head but in your life.  And that is what i really desire: a transformed life.  I'm thankful that Nancy lives this out, teaches others, has written this book and has been a personal encouragement to me as i begin this journey.  At this point i have 3 verses in my head and heart and about to add verse four, seeking to add one verse for each week so that by New Year's Eve, Lord willing, i will have 52 verses!  what a treasure that will be!

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real
A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
by Todd Burpo
2010

This is a book I have seen quite a bit in ariports, as Russ and I have traveled about this year in the USA.  Various people have recommended it to me and especailly during the time I was awaiting results from an ab-normal medical test it caught my interest.  But it wasn't until after I got my library card in the Heights and a librarian helped me to find it that I actually read it.
Well, it is very much like the subtitle describes: the little boy, named Colton, has a need for emergency surgery and while that is taking place he goes to heaven.  Later as he is fully recovered he begins to tell his family  bits and pieces of what it was like in heaven including people he met, time spent with Jesus, the colors of heaven, etc.   The story unfolds from the father's  point of view and is a quick and easy read and gives lots of hopeful things to think through.  What I found maybe most fascinating is how Colton, even years later, had a very clear memory of what Jesus looked like.  Several times since Colton's experience there were opportunities for his family to see various portraits of Jesus and each time they would ask Colton if the artwork looked like Jesus.  Every time there would be something not quite right with the artists' attempt to capture in a painting or a sketch the essence of Jesus.  Then Colton was shown the art work of a young girl named Akiane Kramarik (who had also been to heaven and back) and Colton was speechless so his father asked him what was wrong with the portrait. He said, "Dad, that one is right."
As Colton's dad is also a pastor, he takes the time to add dimension to the story by quoting passages from the Bible that give a foreshadowing of heaven. I'm glad I read the book and for it being the first near-death-expereince book I have read, I found it to be a good one and believable.   Can't wait to go myself!

Joy Beyond Anxiety

 

Joy Beyond Anxiety
The Philippians' Peace
by Russell Minick
December 2007
43 pages

Russell did a great job at putting in written form the many lessens he has taught the Sojos church in the senior year of Hannah's class.  His conversational tone through out the booklet made for a great way to connect to important and life-changing ideas and truths that Paul originally put forth in his letter to a church he loved while he was imprisoned in Rome.  He had many reasons that they then were to keep the faith and keep the joy.  Those reasons still are applicable to us today for some things will never change.  Jesus left heaven to be our champion and we have now a way to live life that has meaning as we live forgiven and in community seeking to grow our love deeper in knowledge and depth on insight and in doing so be better equip to know what is best, live blamelessly and purposefully.  I liked reading the book again as it brought to mind the people we lived among when Russ first taught to us these truths.  His examples were from Thailand so it made it fun to again think back to those days and at the same time be encouraged at all the growth God has done in and through Sojo's church since that time in 2007-8.  Our family then left Chiang Mai; Hannah to university and the rest of us to one year in London.  May God continue to shape us into the character of His son I pray.  This booklet has in it the full letter that Paul wrote (broken into chunks) which Russell then explains in our context and in the time of when the letter was first penned.  I recommend it to anyone who desires to grow in joy and reduce anxiety as God tells us that peace is in Him.  May we all grow closer to the One who loves us most.  Amen.  I think Russ should make this available as an e-book.  I highly recommend it. 

Psalm 91

Psalm 91
Real-Life Stories of God's Shield of Protection
Authors: Peggy Joyce Ruth and Angelia Ruth Schum
248 paperback
2010

This book was chosen by my Tuesday noon prayer ladies from Houston's First.  The book has two parts: 1. Chapter by chapter where the author expands on the verse by verse of Psalm 91 and part 2. Brief stories of people who have experienced God's protection by praying Psalms 91.
The beginning shares a lot of examples of the military so as I read it and highlighted here and there,  I began to pray for Justin H. as he is at this time going through extensive military training. At times the author seems to advocate the power of the words of the ninety-first psalm rather than to focus on the power and relationship that comes from being connected to the Almighty.  All in all, the book is insightful and helpful to better understanding that personal protection is available for those that trust in The Lord.   What is important is to trust in God fully no matter your circumstances and to call out to Him when in need.  The original human author of psalm 91 is anonymous but there is strong evidence that Moses could have written this powerful song of protection and love of God.  I enjoyed the interaction of the ladies group as we studied this book and it has helped to shape my prayer life as I lift various people, as well as myself, before the Lord for protection.

If... What do I know of Calvary Love?

If
What do I know of Calvary Love?
author: Amy Carmichael
70 pagers; paperback
1938

This small book is so dense with awareness on how life is to be lived according to the love Jesus showed at Calvary that it can not be taken in all at one time, but rather a few poems a day, poem after pondered poem.  I am thankful to Laura Smith for sending this treasure to me as it came in the mail just when I needed this type of reflection.

Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, wrote the poetry of this 70 page book mainly overnight when a fellow worker approached her with the sad situation of a younger one who was "missing the the way of Love", as she put it in the introduction of the book.  The majority of the book is made up of poetry which leads to introspective evaluation of one's own understanding of love and how that is lived out in life.  The part right after the poetry was most insightful to me.  I will type up the ending as it is not only a great conclusion but a great appetizer for what his book holds for anyone questioning Love.   And I have a feeling I will re-read If  What do I know of Calvary Love? again and again, if I am brave enough to do so.

Beloved, let us love.


Lord, what is love?

Love is that which inspired My life, and led Me to My cross, and held Me on My cross.  Love is that which will make it thy joy to lay down thy life for thy brethren.

Lord, evermore give me this love.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after love, for they shall be filled.


Amen, Lord Jesus.

 

Finding God's Will

Finding God's Will
Seek Him, Know Him, Take the Next Step
author: Gregg Matte
256 pages, hardback
2010

We were introduced to Pastor Gregg and his wife Kellie after a brief missions meeting at Houston's First and in conversation I commented about the book he had recently written. Pastor Gregg stepped across the hall into the church's bookstore, grabbed a copy and signed it for Russ and I.  I asked his wife if she had read it and if was any good, and she said yes to both, so in early December 2011 I opened it up.  Life is filled with seasons of unknowns, and at the time I began Finding God's Will, these were a few of the unknowns before me:

• The news of an abnormal mammogram came just before Thanksgiving.
•  It had been 6 months since leaving Asia and we still do not know what is next.
• I thought 14 years of nearly monthly 3-day migraines were over after lots of testings and taking thyroid medicine for the past 8 weeks, but I just had another migraine.

Life is uncertain but I know God is faithful and it is good to be refreshed with the truth of this book as I go forward with seeking the God of God's will.   Pastor Gregg does a very good job of parallel-ing the journey of Moses (from burning bush to God's protection and provision through the Red Sea) with modern day examples of several biblical principles of knowing God and knowing His will. After each brief chapter he lists a few questions to ponder and it is in these questions that ownership of the seeking journey takes place.
In chapter 5 (called: Three Oranges: God's Will for Everyone) he writes how God's will is in some sense very general; it is His will for all to have relationship with Him, to grow in that relationship and then out of that growth to have an impact for good in the world around them.  It reminded me again that life is a process that is not to be rushed but to be lived in closeness to God who knows all things and desires good for me.   A later chapter dealing with exchanging the known for the unknown helped bring about clarity for me in this empty nest season.   At the very end of the book, there are 40 verses from the Bible highlighting various aspects of God's will which are a big encouragement providing strength, hope and purpose.  It took me nearly a month to prayerfully read through this book, seeking to apply the things I felt God was/is teaching me, and what has risen to the top is the choice to live life bravely.
There will always be forks in the road where seeking then knowing God's will makes all the difference in the journey, and I believe it is wise to remember God's past care as we sojourner on.  Here are some things I know now that I did not know when I began the book:

• The second mammogram, led to lots of reflection, a painful biopsy, then a phone call just before Christmas with the good news of no cancer.
• Russ and I believe that our 15 years of serving with the IMB may be completed and with gratitude for the past we have excitement to move forward to the unknowns... for now that seems to be somewhere in Texas where we will seek to live life meaningfully in a local community.
• A new medicine has been added to the synthroid I'm taking in hopes of alleviating my migraines...more blood work coming up.

God is God of the on-going and you do not find God's will once and are done, but finding His will is an on-going discovery.  This book can help give framework and inspiration with the process allowing faith to replace fear.

Power Suit

This book gets better with each chapter.  When we moved to Houston a ladies group that prays for missionaries by name on their birthdays invited me to join them on Tuesdays and they were studying the armor of God from Ephesians 6 via the book Power Suit.  I'm so happy I joined them!  The author of Power Suit is also a speaker and I picture she speaks just like she writes, with lots of zip and illustrations.  The book covers all 6 parts of the armor (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit) and as essential these are to wear each day, we also learn what needs to come off before this armor will fit properly as it should.  Each section also has "extras" and these are challenges that will lead to thinking differently and helpful steps are offered to make change possible. It is a book designed not only to be read but to be studied so in the very back the author includes a useful study guide to be used in a group or on your own to aid the formation of healthy and Biblical disciplines. I'm also thankful for the scripture that come to life in the context of why any of this is relevant to living a meaningful and effective life. Thank you Houston's First Women on Missions group for including me in this time of growth.


Power Suit
the Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
by Sharon Norris Elliott
187 pages, paperback
2011

Humility; True Greatness

Humility; True Greatness is a book that I first heard of by reading the 2011 read list of a friend who serves in China. Next to this title she wrote, " read-again and should read it each year".   That caught my interest.  Later i saw this thin black book on another friend's bookshelf and asked to borrow it. Although it is small, there is a lot packed into it and i would suggest reading the last chapter first as it is a wonderful over-view of the previous chapters and even has "how-to" suggestions in list form (and number 12 will probably make you smile like it did me :)).   If growing in humility is a passion, then this book is a great place to start. The author quotes many authors throughout history and sites various sources throughout each chapter to fuel the pursuit of growing in humility. One suggestion is to ask yourself (and your children), whom do you most admire and why. the answers will give good insight into values and understanding of Jesus' teaching of true greatness.
Now here is Lorraine C's recommendation: The book Humility: True Greatness by CJ Mahaney is a small little book that just struck a chord at the right time, and since most of sin is rooted in pride, I gave it a good read. And I just flipped through it again, I remember being struck by his defining of terms: pride: “is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence on Him.” ... Then he goes through Jesus' teaching and words about humility, and then practical ways to fight the sin of pride, and how to look for grace in other people’s lives. It is certainly worth a read.

Thanks, Lorraine!

Humility; True Greatness 

author: CJ Mahaney

hardback; 174 pages
2005