The Return

Review: For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards Jen Hatmaker Nelson Books 2015 Don’t miss this book!   Jen Hatmaker makes reading fun and she has some good words about nearly every topic addressed and she covers a bunch.    Add caption Divided into four sections she moves in ever greater circles from self to those that inhabit the world around us.   One section examines marketing and the messages sent.   Or how about the idea that you can have it all and do it all?   She thinks that just isn’t possible.   Another section covers family up close and personal.   And she even goes so far as believing that children are or should be children.   There’s so much in this book.   You don’t have to agree with her, but at least hear her out.   The chapter entitled Poverty Tourism (153) spoke most plainly to me right now as I pack for a mission trip.   Great reminders.   And don’t miss...

Review: Jesus Swagger: Break Free from Poser Christianity Jarrid Wilson Nelson Books 2015 Swagger?   “ A person’s style---the way they walk, talk, dress” is the definition Wilson chose to use for this work.   OK.   Not liking the word much, but we’ll go with it for now.   See if works or not.   The subtitle is where the book goes with the swagger idea.   Real or fake.   Arrogant or humble.   Inclusive or exclusive even.   That’s the kind of look he explores in his book.   Perhaps the thin layer of respectable Christianity that has been around for a while has failed often enough for some folks to look for something more.   And that is where Wilson steps into the discussion.   Wilson along with other authors have explored this topic a lot recently.   Maybe it is time to step back and check out where we are in this and then decide what comes next.   I applaud him and them for saying what has been pai...

Review: Beloved Dust// Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth about Yourself Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel Nelson Books 2014 I was intrigued by the title of this book.   Dust? It’s been quite a while since I had heard that word used in the way these authors use it.   This dust reference comes directly from Genesis 2.   They are talking about you and me and the rest of us in this book.   It took me some time to get on board with that terminology even if it isn’t new.   So the early part of the book was a bit of struggle for me.   The style is not difficult.   In fact, these authors have an engaging way of drawing the reader into the text.   They seek to help the reader discover the truth about themselves, paraphrasing the title, and the place they start is the beginning.   Their descriptions in no way denigrate the worth of man to his Creator, but neither does it place man in control of the universe.   Once that ...