Jesus Called--He Wants His Church Back, by Ray Johnston

Pastor Ray Johnston wants to have a few words with American Christians.  In Jesus Called--He Wants His Church Back: What Christians and the American Church are Missing, Johnston writes "American Christians, in general, don't look much like Jesus . . . or love like Him . . . or lead like Him . . . or live like Him.  We may be believers, but we're not becomers."

Ceremony, tradition, legalism, institutionalism and exclusiveness tend to characterize American churches.  "Christians seem to want to attend church but not necessarily follow Jesus."  Johnston wants us to "avoid becoming an old, cranky, boring, uptight grown-up."  Christians often fail to recognize that "The God of the universe longs to be close to you."  Johnston writes, "You are as close to God as you want to be." To get there, we might have to give up "the idol of safety." "Authentic faith is developed only when we respond to the call of God and take a risk."

I appreciated Johnston's church-centered approach to evangelism.  Without disparaging evangelistic efforts outside the church walls, he emphasizes the importance of the gathering of believers, "not giving up meeting together."  Johnston writes "if they are not connected with other believers to worship, then they are not living authentic Christianity."  He is a big fan of simply inviting people to church: "Witness all you want, but also bring them to church.  'Come and see' is always more effective than 'shut up and listen.'"

However, he recognizes that church culture can tend to be off-putting to non-Christians, which we must avoid.  And, most importantly, remember Jesus' "three-word invitation to all people at all times, "Come to me."  The invitation is not to rituals, religion, confirmation, or liturgy, but to "life-giving relationship that is the heart of the Christian faith."

Johnston book is clarion call to churches and Christians to be more authentic and deliberate in their faith.  Rather than being filled with servants, as the early church was, "our churches today are filled with spectators," which leads to church stagnation.  Any job demands the right tools and equipment.  "God has created a piece of equipment to use: the church."  We can use this tool to reach our communities and reaching people for Christ.  Johnston's church, Bayside Church in the Sacramento area, has been doing this well.  Jesus Called is a helpful, readable resources for Christians who want to live like Jesus and see their churches turn to Him.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

2016 Reading Challenge: A book about the church
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Adulthood is a Myth, by Sarah Andersen

We all have to grow up sometime.  Or not.  Sarah Andersen's collection of cartoons, Adulthood is a Myth, reminds us that there is more to growing than just adding numbers to your age.  She struggles with adult things, like chores, work, and relationships, but still has to deal with getting out of betting and talking to people.

Andersen's comics will best be appreciated by single women, women on their period, introverts, and book worms.  I am a married man, somewhat extroverted, and a book worm, and I really enjoyed her humor.  She did make a little fun of my favorite shoes, in her "Ugly Shoe Trend" comic.  (They're called Vibram Five Fingers, Sarah, and they're awesome.)

She also has a love-hate relationship with social media.  It is sort of odd the things people share.  Do your friends want to see the picture of the cheeseburger you had for lunch?  Really more than that, the complexities of relationships give her fodder for laughs.  Our public face and the thoughts in our heads may not always correspond. . . .  She'll try to be sociable, but her introverted self just wants to get home and get in her pajamas.  Sounds like my wife.

Fashion foibles and overeating are stereotypically feminine concerns, and they are reflected in Adulthood is a Myth.  I can't necessarily relate to her trying on a bunch of clothes and wondering "Are clothing companies even aware that bras exist?"  I do sometimes wonder why girls can't seem to wear a shirt that covers their bra. . . .  I also can't personally relate to angst about shaving my legs.  But I did like the contrast of a "bad relationship," where her boyfriend flees upon seeing her unshaven legs, and the "good relationship," where he admires them.  "Ooooo, fuzzy!"  (My wife and I have a good relationship.)

So, Andersen has lots of feminine humor that I can only appreciate only in a second-hand way.  But she hit home with me on overeating during the holidays, staying up all night reading, procrastinating, and, overall, realizing that just because I'm older doesn't mean I'm automatically going to do grown-up things.  "I still just don't feel grown up, ya know?"

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Christ or Chaos, by Dan DeWitt

Seminary professor and pastor Dan DeWitt boils down worldview to a single question: is life and reality described and governed by chaos?  Or is there order, based on a creator, and, ultimately, Jesus?  In Christ or Chaos, DeWitt presents the contrast between an atheistic worldview and a worldview that embraces God and Jesus.  Focussing on the classical categories of naturalism and moralism, DeWitt compares the worldviews of two fictional college students, one a Christian, one an atheist rejecting his Christian upbringing.

DeWitt does an excellent job of getting to the bottom line on important questions.  He argues that science and naturalism are not enough to provide meaning in life.  Drawing deeply from the tradition of C.S. Lewis, DeWitt describes a world which points to someone or something beyond ourselves.  Further, within ourselves we have to recognize that the moral categories that govern our lives point to the existence and presence of God.

DeWitt is an engaging writer.  He touches on major streams of theodicy without getting technical.  His style is governed by a belief that "in the end, what will change your life is not an argument, but the very spirit of God." Anyone who has ever engaged a knowledgable atheist on these questions will tend to agree.  On that point, I don't know that an atheist who reads Christ and Chaos will be at all moved.  But faithful Christians who want to dialogue with their atheist roommates and others would do well to spend some time reading Christ and Chaos and "be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

2016 Reading Challenge: A book about worldview
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God's Not Dead 2, by Travis Thrasher

Did you catch the 2014 movie God's Not Dead?  It's a good one.  Good enough, and profitable enough, that a sequel is set to be released April 1, 2016.  To get a preview of the upcoming movie, I read the novelization by Travis Thrasher, God's Not Dead 2.  Sure, it's movie tie-in, with lots of cinematic, melodramatic elements, but I really enjoyed the book.

When Grace Wesley, a high school history teacher, is leading a discussion about Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr., a student asks if their philosophy of nonviolence is akin to the teachings of Jesus.  Grace, a Christian, responds by quoting some scripture.  Some kids tweet about it, some parents get upset, the principal suspends the teacher, and a lawsuit ensues.

The teacher's defense counsel: Tom Endler, a down-and-out lawyer with a bad attitude, no respect for authority, and a firm commitment not to be a Christian.  The prosecution: high powered, high dollar ACLU lawyers with an agenda.  No one gives them a chance, but we all know God's not dead--and he answers prayer!

God's Not Dead 2 takes place in the same city as God's Not Dead.  The main characters are new, but we get to catch up with some favorite characters from the first movie.  I haven't seen the new movie yet, obviously, so I can't compare Thrasher's treatment.  Based on the movie preview, it looks like there will be a few differences.  But Thrasher's novel stands alone, even if the reader sees neither movie.

I did have slightly mixed feelings about the case itself.  Grace teaches at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, named after a Baptist pastor.  She is discussing King's public life, an activist who could hardly speak a sentence without some reference to scripture, and whose speeches more sermon than oration.  Why is it not self-evident that a reference to Jesus and the Bible would not be out of place in such a discussion?  During the trial, the school principal does reluctantly concede that King was a preacher, but that they focus on his civil rights leadership.  Tom argues that the two can't be separated, and demonstrates King's use of scripture, making the point well.

The prosecution wants to convict Grace of using her authority to impose her religious beliefs.  But the argument is really over the content of the lesson, or, rather, her response to a question about the lesson.  It should not have been an issue.  But that is really the point the movie and novel are trying to make: this sort of thing is becoming an issue.  Tom asks, "Would it be fair to say that, except for Christianity, all other forms of diversity are welcome?"  The question goes unanswered, but it is a question that we are forced to ask in real life in public spaces across America.

Speaking of real life, as part of the defense, Tom calls real-life two expert witnesses, Gary Habermas, the Liberty University professor who has written dozens of books about the existence of God and Jesus, and James Warner Wallace, who has written books like Cold Case Christianity and God's Crime Scene.  Thrasher's account of their testimony makes a nice, succinct introduction to their ideas.

Just like God's Not Dead, stories of individuals struggling with their response to God are woven throughout God's Not Dead 2.  Grace is strengthened in her faith under adversity; Tom considers whether he has faith; Grace's student is torn by her budding faith and her parents' atheism; Amy, the journalist from God's Not Dead, is faced with new struggles and she tries to grow in her faith.  Thrasher's characters feel real and likable (well, except for the villains. . . .).  The struggles they face are genuine and universal.  God's Not Dead is a solid story, a pleasure to read.  I look forward to the movie!


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Adoption Beyond Borders, by Rebecca Compton

International adoption has come under fire in recent years, resulting in a decline in the number of American families who adopt internationally.  If a child dies while in the care of his or her adoptive family, or, as in one case, a family gives up and puts a child on a plane back to the child's country of origin, it's a newsworthy tragedy.  But the bigger tragedy is the extent to which these rare cases lead to policies which discourage and reduce opportunities for international adoption.

Psychology professor and adoptive parent Rebecca Compton examines the research on international and transracial adoption and draws conclusions about adoption policies in her new book Adoption Beyond Borders: How International Adoption Benefits Children.  Her subtitle is a big spoiler for the book.  On the question of whether international adoption is good for kids, she says YES! (with all caps and lots of exclamation points).

The benefits to children are no surprise to adoptive parents and others who favor adoption.  Compton doesn't stop with anecdotes and emotion; she surveys academic studies and finds consensus to agree with her "Yes!"  There will always be anecdotes, such as the ones mentioned above, or allegations about baby selling or human trafficking.  The real story is that adopted children are abused less frequently than non-adoptive children.  In fact, something that seems obvious to point out, adoptive children are in many ways better off, as adoptive parents have to go through extensive screening, they tend to have higher incomes, more education, and are older than typical first-time parents.

Perhaps the most important policy point Compton makes is an argument in favor of earlier placement.  Due to bureaucracy, political considerations, and some (somewhat) justifiable logistical and practical considerations, even a smooth, early adoption will often be preceded with a child spending long months and, usually, years in an institutional setting before going home with the adoptive family.  In some cases, a match is made, the adoption is complete, but families are prevented from taking home their child because of red tape, visa requirements, or other barriers.  When placement is delayed, "significant disruptions in postnatal caregiving" in institutions leave children with bonding and attachment issues, which get more pronounced the older the child is when finally placed.

I was particularly intrigued by Compton's objection to the common distinction between "biological" versus "adoptive" parent.  She writes, "labeling the birth mother as the 'biological' mother primes the belief that the birth mother is the 'natural' mother and therefore the 'good' mother, with the implication that the adoptive mother is none of these."  She argues that while there are obvious "biological mechanisms that serve to bond an infant and its birth mother," there are also "mechanisms that allow for bonding between unrelated parents and children."  Again, this is no surprise to adoptive parents, but her biological and scientific description of this process of bonding is interesting and affirming.  I think I'll stop using the "biological mother" distinction.  (I'm thinking "birth mother" might be better. . . .)

Compton concludes that "research reviewed in this book overwhelmingly affirms the conclusion that international adoption benefits children."  Her biggest policy recommendation is in favor of "placing children in family settings as early in life as possible to minimize the well-established effects of psychological deprivation."  Further, she recommends putting the welfare of the children before concerns about nationalistic or ethnic identity, which sometimes causes unnecessary delays in placement.  The sooner bureaucratic barriers can be overcome in order to begin attachment with the adoptive parent, the better.

Every child who remains in an orphanage, or who bounces around foster homes without a permanent place to call home, is one more child who will, statistically speaking, have a much harder adult life. I welcome Compton's affirmation of international adoption and her recommendations for improving the process for the benefit of the children.  And that benefit should be foremost in the minds of those who are in control of the legal and political process.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the complimentary electronic review copy!

2016 Reading Challenge: A book about adoption
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The Lego Architect, by Tom Alphin

These are way above my skill set. (instructions not included)

My mother tells me that when I was a child, I had a big bucket of Legos, and that she could leave me alone with that bucket and I would entertain myself for hours, building away.  Now, as a father, I have enjoyed building Lego models with my boys, mostly Star Wars spaceships.  (I do have to admit that I enjoy them more than my kids do.)  As much as I have enjoyed Legos, I have never reached the level of skill and creativity displayed in Tom Alphin's book, The Lego Architect.

There are three great things about The Lego Architect.  First, Alphin covers several styles or periods of modern architecture, describing characteristics of the style and major architects.  He includes photos of typical buildings in each style.  These essays, while short and simple, provide a very nice introduction to these different schools of architecture, sure to spark interest in budding architects.

Second, he includes photos of Lego models of some of those same buildings.  The models are fabulous and simply breathtaking.  For someone whose original Lego buildings consist of a rectangular castle or fort with no roof, I am awe-inspired by some of these models.

Build your own mini-Monticello. (instructions included)

Third, Alphin provides building instructions, in the
style of Lego instructions with which any Lego builder is familiar, for several relatively simple Lego buildings.  In addition to the specific instructions (which even an uncreative dummy like me can follow), he talks about tips for building in the style of the chapter.  Maybe a patient, somewhat skilled Lego builder could create some of the fabulous, complex buildings pictured within.

For the gawker who just loves looking at awesome Lego creations, or for the creative type who wants to take his or her Lego skills to the next level, The Lego Architect is a great place to start.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

2016 Reading Challenge: A book about a hobby
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Mars One, ed. Norbert Kraft

Think about this: in our lifetimes, a human settlerment will be established on Mars.  Science fiction is becoming science fact!  My parents and grandparents, when they were children, probably couldn't have imagined men walking on the surface of the moon, much less Mars.  The team at Mars One is in full preparation mode to send the first group of settlers to Mars in ten short years!

To give some background, and to look forward to the task at hand, Norbert Kraft, Mars One Chief Medical Officer, has edited Mars One: Humanity's Next Great Adventure.  Space travel insiders, including some involved in Mars One, have written a collection of essays about the realities of a one-way mission to Mars.

Here's what impressed me about Mars One.  This isn't a speculative book.  It's real.  The selections are written by people who have worked in space exploration and development, who have trained astronauts, who have led missions, and who have technical, scientific, and personal experience with space exploration.  This is not sci-fi.

Interspersed among the essays are short selections quoting Mars One applicants.  The astronauts selected for a one-way trip to establish a human presence on Mars will be heroes.  I appreciated hearing their thoughts about leaving Earth behind and establishing a human legacy on a new world.

One interesting part of Mars One's plan is taping a reality show of the selection and training of the astronauts, as well as of the mission itself.  I was reminded of John Olson and Randy Ingermanson's novel Oxygen, which is the closest portrayal I have read to the mission Mars One envisions.  Their mission was broadcast for general consumption, and partially funded by network ad revenue.  Oxygen was first published in 2001, but anticipates many elements of Mars One's plan.

Mars One will make a believer out of you.  It's not the most gripping reading (the essays are largely written by science Ph.D.s, after all), but reading about Mars One with the knowledge that these are real people making real plans to send a group of astronauts to Mars is beyond cool.  I can hardly wait to see Mars One succeed in their mission.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!