The Return

Review: Tempted, Tested, True: A Proven Path to Overcoming Soul-Robbing Choices A rnie Cole and Michael Ross Bethany House Publishers 2013 This book is a straight forward look at some common poor choices most of us make in life at some time or another that continue to plagues us long after the original decisions were made.   Divided into topical chapters the authors address addictions to worry.   As the authors state early on, this book is a guide and a workbook combined into a single volume, one that can be used in group settings or as a personal tool.   The whole point is freedom from whatever it is that has you bound.   It starts off with some necessary steps that take aim on all the excuses we offer for continuing whatever is our major weak point.   You know the one thing that’s “not as bad as all that.”   And once that start point is established the authors delve into some specific areas of weakness that they found more common from surve...

Review: Reclaiming Love: Radical Relationships in a Complex World Ajith Fernando Zondervan 2012 This book is a gem among all the Christian literature available, and one of the few that I’ve read that lives up to the endorsements found in the front matter.   It truly is worth the read.   Each chapter opens the idea of love more fully and encourages the reader to look at his own life and to compare where he is now with where he could be.   Nice part---the text that follows will show the reader how to change if change is needed.    Yes, love is a big deal and the love described in this book is so far removed from most of my experience, and I suspect that of others, it seems a dream.   Fernando shows that this love is more than a dream, but a living reality for those who choose to walk that path.    The book is an exploration of the “love chapter” in 1 Corinthians.   Yes, the one used at many weddings.   When I began t...

Review: Revealing Jesus: A 365 Day Devotional Darlene Zschech Bethany House Publishers 2013 What struck me first was the clarity and depth of these devotional readings and, yes, I was surprised by that.   I severely underestimated her ability and maturity in this area.   So for those who don't like her brand of music, give this author a chance.   It really is that good and I genuinely look forward to the time I read these devotionals.  Each day's reading is concise, thoughtful, thought provoking, and the entrance to a real time of worship and prayer.   This will become the new standard for devotional writers of today.   At least, I hope so. The readings are divided into monthly themes.   Faithful, Solid Rock, Holy One are a few examples of the themes. They are introduced with lyrics from hymns, and the graphics used to highlight them added to the appeal of this book.   Most of the devotionals have been written by t...

Review: A Dream So Big: Our Unlikely Journey to End the Tears of Hunger Steve Peifer with Gregg Lewis Zondervan 2013 I needed this book.   Most of us need this book if the truth be told.   Did I like this book, yes, but no.   It speaks to a place that has been suppressed for a long, long time.   So to start off with, if you want to remain unchanged and blissfully ignorant do not read this book.   But, if you know that it's time to wake up and smell the coffee, read this book. It is the true story of a comfortable middle class family that through a series of events ends up in Kenya as house parents at a school for missionary children.   You will laugh and you will cry throughout this well written memoir (my word) of their experiences in Africa.   You will live through their experiences what it means to be engaged in caring for the hungry, the poor, the widows and orphans and each other too.   A fabulous read and one that challe...

Review: gods at war Kyle Idleman Zondervan 2013 Any who have experienced this author's previous study will not be disappointed by this one.   It is well written, wonderfully equipped with illustrations, and timely.   So what else can I say about this? For starters, anyone who has been in church for any length of time will probably have heard some of what this study contains before, but the nice thing is not quite the way Idleman presents it.   It retains its freshness.   His quote, "idolatry isn't an issue---it is the issue" reframes the entire emphasis for me.   And, it never hurts to check to see where you are personally with this.   What didn't I like? Not much.   I was surprised at the abrupt ending, but with some thought even that works.   I do wish I had access to the video series that goes with this to see how that is done.   His previous work was top notch in that department and I would expect this one to be as ...