Awesome book. Mr. Jenkins is a great novelist and what a great message. I've thought about the book every day since I finished it 5 days ago. And that is not like me.
I read novels to normally just escape into something other than TV or a movie and when I finish, that's it; done. But not this book. It leaves a mark...so far.
8/9/2008 - Update: two weeks later, I'm still thinking about the characters and still recommending the book to others. Cathy has finished it and was a bit upset with the ending - it is sobering!
After a couple of weeks, as riveting as the role of Brady is, I'm probably drawn just as much, if not more, to the Chaplain and his struggles. Yet, saying that just now, what a great and glorious God we have. Now that's a role!
Mid-September, 2008: Jenkins' story-line and characters continues to be infecting!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
"What Jesus Demands of the World" by John Piper
Years ago after studying Matthew 28:18-20 I began wondering what "all" did Jesus command? He told his apostles to "teach them to observe all that I've commanded."
So, what did he command?
Piper has worked through this question and his answer, only in part he admits, is this book. While the author admits this book is not exhaustive, it is lengthy and has incredible MEAT.
I've read through parts of the book a few times. I'm now studying each of the 50 demands one week at a time.
Demand #1 - 7/20/2008: John 3: 3,5,7 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kngdom of God..Jesus answered,..do not marvel that I said to you, 'you must be born again.'"
7/25/2008: Now this is interesting that Jesus said that Nicodemus should not marvel. Even though Nicodemus was a teacher of God's word, still...not marvel? I'm pondering this some more..
7/31/2008: Some friends and I are going to be going through this book together over the next year. So, I'll continue this discussion on another blog. Let me know if you'd like to join in.
So, what did he command?
Piper has worked through this question and his answer, only in part he admits, is this book. While the author admits this book is not exhaustive, it is lengthy and has incredible MEAT.
I've read through parts of the book a few times. I'm now studying each of the 50 demands one week at a time.
Demand #1 - 7/20/2008: John 3: 3,5,7 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kngdom of God..Jesus answered,..do not marvel that I said to you, 'you must be born again.'"
7/25/2008: Now this is interesting that Jesus said that Nicodemus should not marvel. Even though Nicodemus was a teacher of God's word, still...not marvel? I'm pondering this some more..
7/31/2008: Some friends and I are going to be going through this book together over the next year. So, I'll continue this discussion on another blog. Let me know if you'd like to join in.
Book: "Redeeming the Routines"
I'll try to comment on this book a bit later, but it is very good. The author has obviously spent a great deal of time working out his content.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Book: "Lasting Investments" by Kent Humphreys
A thoroughly good read that left me many times wishing pastors would really read what Humphreys has to say.
The author is a former CEO and 30+ year business owner. His stories of challenges and triumphs are very encouraging and real.
The subtitle is "A Pastor's Guide for Equipping Workplace Leaders to Leave a Spiritual Legacy." While it is a great read for not just pastors, but all people in the workplace, I warn you though, you could begin wondering why your pastor isn't tuned in to the honest-to-goodness struggles you experience 40, 50, and more hours per week.
Included is a step-by-step guide on how a pastor might bring a group of business leaders through the process. The case studies at the end of the book are really good discussion topics for anyone to wrestle through.
This book is real and should leave any reader at least wondering how he or she could be better equipped to minister to his or her co-workers.
Humphreys doesn't beat-around-the-bush with what he believes. Case-in-point is the following exert from pages 53-53;
"Ministry must have as its long-term eternal focus either evangelism or discipleship as defined by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Ministry has as its goal to enlarge and mature the body of Christ. Is feeding the hungry a ministry? Yes, if its focus is eternal. But if it is only to fill empty stomachs, then it is just a good deed. So, ministry is determined not just by what we do by why we do it."
That's good stuff. He goes on to quote a friend, Walter Henrichsen: "The secular becomes spiritual if done for the eternal, and the spiritual or religious becomes secular if done for the temporal."
Yikes. That'll keep a few people at arms-length from the book. But Humphreys is obviously more interested in the truth than selling books.
It really is a good book and should cause anyone "searching the matter out" (Proverbs 25:2) to ponder deeply. Again, the case studies, with scripture notations, at the end of the book are excellent tools for individual and group discussions.
The author is a former CEO and 30+ year business owner. His stories of challenges and triumphs are very encouraging and real.
The subtitle is "A Pastor's Guide for Equipping Workplace Leaders to Leave a Spiritual Legacy." While it is a great read for not just pastors, but all people in the workplace, I warn you though, you could begin wondering why your pastor isn't tuned in to the honest-to-goodness struggles you experience 40, 50, and more hours per week.
Included is a step-by-step guide on how a pastor might bring a group of business leaders through the process. The case studies at the end of the book are really good discussion topics for anyone to wrestle through.
This book is real and should leave any reader at least wondering how he or she could be better equipped to minister to his or her co-workers.
Humphreys doesn't beat-around-the-bush with what he believes. Case-in-point is the following exert from pages 53-53;
"Ministry must have as its long-term eternal focus either evangelism or discipleship as defined by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Ministry has as its goal to enlarge and mature the body of Christ. Is feeding the hungry a ministry? Yes, if its focus is eternal. But if it is only to fill empty stomachs, then it is just a good deed. So, ministry is determined not just by what we do by why we do it."
That's good stuff. He goes on to quote a friend, Walter Henrichsen: "The secular becomes spiritual if done for the eternal, and the spiritual or religious becomes secular if done for the temporal."
Yikes. That'll keep a few people at arms-length from the book. But Humphreys is obviously more interested in the truth than selling books.
It really is a good book and should cause anyone "searching the matter out" (Proverbs 25:2) to ponder deeply. Again, the case studies, with scripture notations, at the end of the book are excellent tools for individual and group discussions.
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