The Return

Review: The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together Jared Wilson Baker Books 2017 I had to read this one just because of the audacity of its title.   A disciple that couldn’t get their act together?   The other disciple type books I’d picked up didn’t put it quite that way at all.   In fact, I really can’t remember this addressed directly.   Wilson pretty much filled that empty space in my reading with this book.    This is not a discipleship book in the usual sense of the word.   In fact, he says, “The essential message of Christianity isn’t ‘ do’ but ‘ done’.   The gospel is news , not instruction, and it announces to us not ‘get to work’ but ‘it is finished.’”.   (67)    He arrived at that conclusion after a time of beholding, i.e. looking intensely, really seeing, Jesus Christ, not just taking a quick look on the way to supporting a point.   Now he’s ready to talk about the r...

Review: The Power of Together: Discover the Christian Life You’ve Been Missing Jim Putnam 2016 Baker Books I wish I had gotten an e-version of this book instead of the print version.   Why?   To see how many hits I would get on the word relationship.   This book delves into that topic from several angles attempting to encourage the reader to become more involved in forming genuine relationships.   Those of us that are older may remember the word friendship .   The real sort, not the sort established on social media with the touch of an icon.    That’s what Putnam feels is missing in the Christian life.   That’s what he spends 245 pages trying to explain, illustrate, model, or extol.   He has diagnosed a major deficiency in current life for many inside and outside the church.      So what is the solution to the problem?   Happily, he offers some suggestions that should be obvious by the time he gets to th...

Review: Come with Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads Suzanne Eller Bethany House 2016 There’s an old song attributed to S. Sundar Singh, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, that many have heard sung in a church service at one time or another.   If that song became a book it would be very like the one Eller has written.   In her latest book she encourages the reader to step up and follow Jesus as He invites you to become one of His disciples.      As the original disciples had to discover the what, how, and where of their journey with Jesus, the more recent disciples have a similar journey to accept and travel if they want to truly know the way of Jesus.   Borrowing from that old song and the back cover of the book…though none go with you, you are not alone.   Ever.   The basics are not new, but her presentation shows how it looks in today’s world.   And that is the reason to go get a copy of this book and r...