T4T A Discipleship Re-Revolution

T4T A Discipleship Re-Revolution
by Steve Smith with Ying Kai
pages: 349; paperback
2011


Steve Smith has done a great job searching the scriptures concerning church planting, compiling a training guide based on Biblical principles, and giving several examples in various contexts of how these can be lived out in today's changing world.  T4T A Discipleship Rerevolution is a well-tested tool that can help many as they desire to live life as a"follower of Jesus and fisher of men" (a phrase Steve uses frequently in both his written training and in his verbal teaching).  Each chapter builds on the previous chapter in going step by step into the concepts of what Steve calls a process that coupled with the Holy Spirit's moving can lead to a church planting movement. Examples from his own ministry as well as many excerpts from the life of Ying Kai provide deep insights and rich dimensions to the training material.  Steve is a good communicator; he knows that both repetition and practice are necessary for new ideas to take hold and new habits to be formed. The book T4T A Discipleship ReRevolution gives a solid foundation and additional information can be gained from his website.
The  book's continual references to Biblical precedent and promise along with a thorough index of terms and scripture make this an essential resource for those pursuing church planting movements.   Pages 185-186 touch on a key reminders of how each believer is to both grow up in Christlikeness and walk in good works that fulfill God's mission.  May God's Kingdom continue to extend throughout the world so more and more people can trust that Jesus is indeed the way, truth, and life and through him to live life abundantly.  Thank you Steve, for sharing what God has shown you and thank you for the book!  I  recommend that this book is studied with a partner so concepts can be discussed and implemented in ways for God's goodness to be known and lived.                   

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.

Shades of Blue

Shades of Blue

Karen Kingsbury
333 pages paperback
2009

Because I had not yet read a novel by Karen Kingsbury, when I asked for assistance at the library at Houston’s First, I was shown the shelf of her many novels.  I chose Shades of Blue because of the subtitle, “sometimes hope lies somewhere in the…shades of blue”.  The story does offer hope and allows readers to really feel the situation of life lived without hope of a young teacher who ten years earlier made a decision where the consequences left deep scars and daily pain and a sense of unworthiness.  The story basically takes place over a three-day weekend at a North Carolina beach in present day.  And if you tried, you can picture the blues of where the water and the sky meet.  Restoring hope is offered.  Will it be accepted?  Will there be the kind of forgiveness and redemption that allows for full life to go forward?  If so, what does that look like for this teacher and her returning high school boyfriend (who at this time is engaged to another woman)? 

Karen Kingsbury does a good job with character development and through these characters she is able to bring about awareness of looking at circumstances from several viewpoints. This was a very fast read for me because in a way I felt drawn into these circumstances and I wanted to see how life would unfold for these new friends of mine.
After reading the book, I wondered if Karen Kingsbury was aiming at a particular audience.  Was she preaching to the choir so to speak, or trying to persuade young people to be careful in their choices or seeking to admonish older people how wise council and compassion is needed to help others?  I wonder, do most authors have particular readers in mind when they write?  I was surprised that at the end of the book, the author writes a letter to her readers sharing personal information that spurred her on in the writing of the novel.  I am unsure of whom to recommend this novel to, although I was thankful that I read it. I was even teary-eyed in a few places and yet at the same time glad that there was not a sequel, for the conclusion left a strong enough sense of closure.

You! God's Brand-New Idea

You! God’s Brand-New Idea

Made to be Amazing

Max Lucado

189 pages hardback

Published: 2007

When I joined my friend Criss Norris to worship God at her new church, visitors were blessed with a gift, a little book by Max Lucado. So as Russ and I traveled I would read through the short chapters of the book that is compiled from 16 books that he has written through the years. As the title suggests, the book is about the readers’ uniqueness and then out of that uniqueness God has special ways in which each are to contribute so that He is pleased with the life we are living.  It is a book filled with encouragement and really does not need to be read in any order as each little section is a snip-it that contains a nugget of truth independent of the bit before or after it. 

Max has supporting scripture for each of the 8 sections and although none of it is really new information to me, it is good to reread again that I was made unique by God, for his purpose…to know that purpose.  we can dream knowing that it is for God’s glory, that I can fit into his plan, and ultimately I’m made to love and be loved.  I like that towards the end he says that worship is the cure to the common life…I believe that because when I love God in worship some many of the questions of how am I to live fade into gratitude to God for life and my desire to please him, talk with him, honor him increases.

The Minor Prophets

The Minor Prophets (minor not in their message content, but in the length of their message.)

Prophets of God were and still are people that God uses to remind his people the things they have forgotten so that they will once again turn back to God and stop their foolish, harmful ways and renew their relationship with the righteous King that is both just and merciful.

Hosea                   13 chapters         One Reminder: “I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion, I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.” (Hosea 2:19-20)

Joel                        4 chapters           One Reminder: ... everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.  (Joel 2:32)

Amos                    9 chapters           One Reminder: “I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.  Away with your noisy hymns of praise!  I will not listen to the music of your harps.  Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” (Amos 5:21.23,24)

Obadiah               1 chapter             One Reminder: “The day is near when I, the LORD, will judge the godless nations! As you have done… so it will be done to you.  All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.” (Obadiah 1:15)

Jonah                    4 chapters           One Reminder: Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3:2)

Micah                   7 chapters           One Reminder: “…oh people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you God.” (Micah 6:8)

Nahum                 3 chapters           One Reminder: “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.  He is close to those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:17)

Habakkuk            3 chapters    One Reminder:  “yet I will rejoice in the LORD!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength!” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Zephaniah          3 chapters           One Reminder:  “For the LORD your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Haggai                  2 chapters           One Reminder: “I am with you says the LORD!” (Haggai 1:13b)

Zechariah            14 chapters         One Reminder: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.  Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each other.”  (Zechariah 7:9-10)

Malachi                4 chapters           One Reminder: “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings…”  (Malachi 4:2)

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

His First Bible

His First Bible
by Karla Minick
132 pages paperback
2006


The goal of this book is four-fold; firstly, I wrote it to bring about awareness to our prayer partners, and other readers, of the need for the Shan Dai to have a Bible in their language. Secondly, the concept was to take a theme or principle from the Bible and then (thirdly) couple it with an aspect of Dai life so that with this insight an opportunity to pray for the various situations Dai people face is provided (the forth objective of the book).  So I began with the blessings of God from Genesis, and then searched out the treasurers of the following 65 books of the Bible, concluding in Revelation with the promise that one day all will be worshiping God around his throne for he is worthy.
Although this book went to print the end of 2006 it continues to be written as prayer after prayer can be recorded on the journal's pages.
God, I pray still for the completion of your word to be translated for the Shan Dai (presently Luke has been completed and is in the hands of Dai believers and Acts is nearing completion and Titus has just gone through more correction).  I ask for your wisdom to be continually provided to the translators.  I also pray for the Shan Dai to value your word and in reading and studying have a better idea of you, your love and how life can be lived with joy and purpose.
An added bonus to me has been to reread the prayers I have written on these journal pages over the years rejoicing in God's faithfulness.