Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson

Mark Batterson in Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity challenges the church to question the current state of Christianity. Batterson finds our faith to be educated, civilized and generally acceptable to the world while losing its power, compassion and authenticity. To regain these lost elements Batterson drives us to the essence of our faith in the Primal Commandment Mark 12:30:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Batterson charges the church with not striving to be great with the commandant, in fact he states the church often is not even good at this charge. The author argues that in order to regain its God given authority, the church and individuals must excel at this essential directive. Batterson then examines the pieces of the primal commandant; heart, soul, mind and strength for his reader. Batterson concludes with a call for a new reformation based on believers who have learned to excel at this basic command.

Though Batterson’s material may seem similar to some readers, Batterson’s voice provides a new take on calls for authentic faith and response. Batterson enjoys science and understanding how things work, reinforcing his faith by understanding the complexity of the world. Batterson the pastor shows a willingness to experiment; seeing movie theaters as a platform for delivering the gospel. Multnomah Books and Batterson are encouraging Christians to consider this book as their first read in 2010 sparking a Primal movement. For some readers this book could serve as a good introduction to emergent thought and a challenge to foster a passionate relationship with God that surpasses apologetics and involves the readers mind and soul. For other readers much of the book will seem to reinforce the thoughts of other authors that have called the church to return to the essentials of the faith. For both audiences this book could be a fruitful first read for 2010, though perhaps not essential.

Review Copy provided by Multnomah Books

The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado

In the town of Stiltsville the community is divided into two groups. Once group places themselves above the other standing on stilts. Ollie is a boy who sees himself as not special and desires to be valued by receiving the gift of stilts. When Ollie receives his stilts, his raised position above those on the ground does not last long and Ollie learns that his value is not in stilts but in his relationship with his maker and savior.

Overall this is a very cute book with great illustrations that help engage children to the text. My daughter pointed out visuals that corresponded with the story, furthering the experience. However, despite its cuteness the book does fall a little flat in some areas. The cover advertises a tie-in to the adult Lucado book Fearless. However, readers not familiar with that book will have a hard time connecting this children’s story with the topic of fear. Also in many ways this book feels like another telling if the Punchinello You are Special story which shares a common theme with this book, but Punchinello is more subtle and effective in execution.

Review Copy provided by Thomas Nelson

The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World by Stephen Mansfield.

Stephen Mansfield in The Search for God and Guinness combines two topics that many may find opposed, beer and God. Mansfield provides an overview of the long holy history of beer and its importance from ancient to early modern society. He overturns the myth of the establishment of the Guinness brewery as a God ordained antidote to the social ills of 18^th century Ireland, but instead shows the determination of one religious man in Arthur Guinness’ establishment of the St. James Gate brewery in 1759. Mansfield provides a history of the first Arthur’s decedents in three branches the brewers, the bankers and the “Guinness’s for God” focusing primarily on the brewers and those who made ministry their vocation. The Guinness family history ends with the end of a Guinness directly running the brewery and movement from a family brewery to a major corporation.

The history of the “Guinness’s for God” should be especially heartwarming to Christians. But more exciting is the history of the brewers. The Guinness Brewery is a story of a culture of generosity. It is a tale of care towards brewery staff who were better paid, better educated, better housed and generally lived better lives than their neighbors due to the loving spirit of the Guinness family. The positive effects of the brewery spilled into the streets of Dublin in the early 20^th century to inspire social improvement and social justice. Mansfield is a historian who is able to successfully combine the historian’s craft with a heart for God. He tells a story that both challenges his and our views towards beer and shows what a legacy of love can do to impact the lives of others. His story is one that will make me less judgmental towards those sporting Guinness gear and one that makes we want to share the meaning of a powerful organization.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

So close to great things that I can see your glory in.

So close to receiving rewards from you.

But so so so so frustrated.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Sometimes

Sometimes Father I'm just overwhelmed.

Please give me strength to enjoy the gifts you have given me.

I Grumble

I have it easy.

I have a roof.
I have food.
I have a family.
I have friends, though they are very far away.

I complain. I complain because in the land that Wander I am unconnected.

I complain.

I grumble.

I am ungrateful.

When Moses led Israel out of Egypt, they grumbled:
"But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst (Exodus 17:3, NIV) ?" They were ungrateful for the freedom God gave them. They were ungrateful for an ability to live a life of provision straight from their hands. They grumbled against a God who led them visibly day and night.

I complain. I need to stop, I have it too easy to grumble like I do.

I'm loved by God. I have been led to this land by God. Father I pray you make it clear to me and my family why I am here. Please Father, help me stop grumbling. I need to live the life of freedom you have opened to me, but I am so weak and so much a coward.

Please father be with me....despite my grumbles.

A Call

I have to be honest, Abram's call always scared me, to my very soul. What if God ever asked me to do something, do something similar. Its just not something I felt I had the courage to do. I have to admit, I'm a coward. Every part of me wants to play it safe, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

In Genesis 12 we find God's call to Abram:
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you. (Gen 12 1-3, NIV)"

God asked Abram to give up his home, his larger friends and family and his possessions for a promise. A promise of a great nation. A promise that Abram's name would be glorified. A promise that Abram would be a blessing to others. I think we can't question God is this. Clearly he lived up on his bargain. How greatly have me benefited from the fact that Abram simply heard and obeyed.

I have had a similar call on my life. I have moved my family away from our friends, our church family and our emotional safety. Unlike Abram I have it cushy, I have a job, a roof over my head, food to eat, I don't physically have to wander daily. Yet I feel now like I am wandering like Abram, emotionally and spiritually. I have fears and doubts. My insides cry over what I have lost and what I think I have lost. Still I believe as God kept his promises to Abram, he will bless me too for the fact that we left and have come to a new place, this Canaan of mine.

I hope I will be able to say proudly when this is all done: "Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous (Duet 26:5, NIV)."