Friday, March 14, 2014

The People Factor by Van Moody

Want an excuse to get rid of that annoying person in your life? This book gives you the perfect excuse.


According to the cover, all you have to say is, "I'm sorry but you are preventing me from unlocking my God-given purpose. So this relationship is over."

Of course it's not that simple. But it's not very complex.

Van Moody is part of Joel Osteen's Champions Network. That right there speaks volumes. He's also a trainer for Dr. John Maxwell's EQUIP.

Now, about the book:

There are three parts with part one covering the ten "Laws of Relationships".
1.Being Real.
2.Mutual Benefit
3.Agreement
4.Letting Go
5.Selectivity
6.Sacrifice
7.Anti Secrets
8.True Value
9.Loyalty
10.Constructive Transition

Part two deals with the difficult relationships and part three covers what you need for great relationships.

This book is thick but it contains surface level ideas plugged with Scriptural references. But to be fair, Moody does provide the insight into the areas of our life in which many people need the most assistance. We need to honestly look at the people we are around, be they social or professional. Sometimes it takes a book like this to beat us on the head and wake us up to truth.

Chock this one up for another semi-cliched Inspirational reading.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

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The Deeper Life by Daniel Henderson

Do you have longings of the soul? Specifically eight vital longings? If you do, then this book is for you.


A book with two parts and thirteen appendices, The Deeper Life read like every other inspirational how-to-better-your-life book on the shelf.

Let's look at part one. Here we have the basic ideas, questions and typical answers to theological topics. Eight chapters on God, humanity, purpose, identity, and death.

Part two covers the eight exercises we are to do in order to discover the previous eight questions: Theology, Identity, Purpose, Values, Priorities, Goals, Time, and Legacy.

Then you have the never-ending Appendices.

Henderson is a talented writer. Each chapter begins with the as-always-typical quotes from multiple sources, maybe a clever anecdote or two and then flush the concept out with a personalized drama story.

After reading this review, you may think I didn't enjoy the book. But I did. It's just a re-read of any other Inspirational read. Just like that previous sentence was a repeat from earlier. If you enjoy repeats, you'll enjoy this book.

Now something that is actually a huge bonus from this book are the practical exercises. Plenty of speakers/pastors talk a big game when it comes to identity and purpose but how many of them give you nuts and bolts activities that actually can help? Henderson is your man.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Bethany House Publishing.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Encountering God Together by David Peterson

The biggest point anyone needs to understand is this guy, David Peterson, is against "seeker sensitive" fad in churches. He writes the anti-Andy Stanley mentality. 

This entire book is about how the church is supposed to be building itself up. The evangelism happens because non-church attenders would find church-goers so attractive. 

In other words, don't do Kindness Outreach, don't do big Easter events meant to attract people. Simply encourage one another and allow people to become like you.

This is quite different than what you're hearing from some of the "superstar" church authors out there. Almost every book I've read on church growth/health deals with doing what you can to attract non-Christians. Peterson says that would happen naturally if your church people are healthy in how they treat one another and how they sincerely worship God alone during their Sunday morning services.

It's an interesting, divergent, and maybe arguably a biblical argument. I just don't feel like it would be something I would throw out there.

If you hate what the church growth people are claiming, you'll flock and promote this book like crazy as it's completely opposite.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by P&R Publishing.

Lent for Everyone by N.T. Wright

N.T. Wright provides a decent devotional for the time around Easter.


Each day has a segment of Scripture to read along with some insight by Wright. I always get so much from this guy. The forty days of Lent is given Gospel and Psalm treatment.

If you don't typically follow the Lent calendar, consider picking this book up and learning just a bit more.

I was happy that he used Psalms to add flavor to the devotional instead of simply using everything from the Gospels.

There isn't much more to say about this book. It's great as is everything N.T. Wright authors. Pick it up and enjoy Lent.


This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Westminster John Knox Press.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller

I really got into this book after the first two-thirds of it.


Keller spends the first two parts exploring suffering and our response to it. Part one is called Understanding the Furnace. In this part, Keller touches on how different cultures understand suffering  and then describing why Christianity should be superior in explaining suffering and providing hope.

Part two is called Facing the Furnace and here Keller plays around with the many objections to belief in a god while allowing suffering.

These first two parts were difficult for me to get through. Keller explains himself by wanting to provide a foundation of different worldviews in connection with suffering before revealing the power of Christ and Christian thinking through suffering.

I was not at all impressed.

But part three grabbed my mind and never let go.

Part three is called Walking with God in the Furnace and we get six chapters of, basically, Timothy Keller sermons using Scripture to uncover our understanding of suffering. He uses one word titles for each "sermon": Walking, Weeping, Trusting, Praying, Thinking Thanking Loving, and Hoping.

This last part was exactly like reading his Encounters with Jesus e-series. I love reading Keller's exposition and practical teaching. If this book could have been just the third part, it would've been cheaper and so much better.