I recently finished Steven Scott’s new book, “The Jesus Mission: Christ Completed 27 Missions While on Earth. Take up the 4 He Assigned to You”. As a Christian, I am always looking for guidance and motivation to help me be more on mission for the things that matter to Jesus Christ. “The Jesus Mission” does just that. Scott take nearly half the book explaining the necessity of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and how everything flows from that. This book is not the casual reader. Scott deals heavily in scripture and extends the call to be intimate with and to whole-heartedly follow Christ and forsake the temptation to be a “passive-participant” on the journey of faith.

 I was initially skeptical that these 27 missions could be covered and sufficiently expounded in a single volume. I was correct. The reader has to be willing to stay with Scott as he makes his way toward the 27 missions that don’t come along until chapters 16 and 17. And then, they are treated in a cursory, survey-type method. I did however like he way in which he dealt with the 4 missions Christ asked us to take on. He provided sub-sections with actions and activities to help embrace and understand the missions. All in all, a great book. It is well-written and thoroughly researched. I found it to be smart, challenging, and convicting. I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to further develop their spiritual walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In every generation of evangelical Christianity, there is one who stands in the gap between the marketplace and the church house in order to communicate how biblical Christianity impacts and influences every part of our lives. I believe that Dr. Al Mohler is that man for this generation. Dr. Mohler is the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He has become the voice of conservative Christianity. He continues to be a consistent voice through television, radio, and print. In his new book and first solo effort, “Culture Shift; The Battle for the Moral Heart of America” demonstrates how America is losing its biblical center.

Dr. Mohler begins by stating the positions that most Christians take toward culture: extreme involvement or non-involvement. He sets up his work by using Augustine’s “City of God” as a model and guide. Augustine said that humanity is confronted by to cities: The city of God, eternal and seeking to honor God; The City of Man, passing and self-serving, characterized by disobedience, moral autonomy, and a spirit of rebellion. By way of introduction and a desire to provide necessary groundwork, Dr. Mohler introduces the reader to the voices for and positions of those who would seek a purely secular society void of any reference to God. With intellectual sharpness and respect, Dr. Mohler denounces these concepts and shows the futility of the arguments.

The bulk of his book is spent introducing the reader to the areas of culture in which our lives and society are experiencing shifts. Dr. Mohler discusses numerous topics including the perceived right to never be offended, the role of the Supreme Court and religion, terrorism, biomedicine, public school, parenting, abortion, natural disasters, New Atheism, and the “digital deluge” of modern technology. Mohler, in a very fair but firm manner, deals with each issue and the proponents of these issues in a way that honors God and elevates the Scriptures. These chapters are not an in-depth analysis, nor are they exhaustive. Instead, they serve as a primer for further study and discussion.

I found “Culture Shift” to be engaging, useful, enlightening, challenging, and a stern warning. As a Christian, the ideas and agendas that serve to diminish my worldview are exposed. As a pastor, I was able to see deeper into the competing worldviews that my congregation deals with every day. If there is one negative to say, it would be this. Not enough. The essay blog-post form of the chapters left me wanting much more. I believe the material and topics covered in “Culture Shift” could make up two books giving more attention to each. To say that Dr. Mohler has exposed the slippery slope of liberalism and the cravings of humanist thought would be a gross understatement. I highly recommend this book all who claim the name of Christ who desire to know the forces and agenda coming against your belief system. Well written, researched, and presented. Just what I expected.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I believe that most everyone has heard of Oprah Winfrey. Over the past twenty-five years, her daytime talk show has been wildly successful, while at the same time a roller coaster ride at best. In the beginning it was one of negativity, trash, filth, and the very worst of societal topics, thus earning her the name, as Stephen Mansfield writes, “Slime Queen of daytime television.” At the end of its run her show had become positive. Her daytime talk show had become a launcher of careers, an influencer of people, and an encouragement for good around the world. What happened? Oprah started dealing in religion.

In “Where Has Oprah Taken Us? The Religious Influence of the World’s Most Famous Woman”, author Stephen Mansfield takes an honest and in-depth look at the events, people, tragedies, and successes that have made Oprah Winfrey the cultural icon that she is today. Although she has influenced many in many areas, Mansfield chooses to write about her religious influence upon Americans and those around the world. Mansfield begins by looking at Oprah’s early years growing up in the Baptist church. He shows what was the basis for her conservative evangelical faith and then what forces began to challenge that faith.  As Oprah become more successful in her broadcasting and television career, she began to open herself up to and eventually embrace eastern religions. Mansfield explores her shift from a biblical faith rooted in the worship of God to an eastern type, meditation-driven spirituality rooted in the worship of self. Mansfield writes, “It is not going too far to say that spiritually she is the composite of all that her gurus have taught her and that to know her one must first know them.”  He then lists who those influential gurus are. They include Marianne Williamson, Eckhart Tolle, Gary Zukav, Depak Chopra, Rev. Ed Bacon, and Iyanla Vanzant.

“Where Has Oprah Taken Us?” is well written, thoroughly researched, and intentionally balanced, allowing Oprah’s words to speak for her. I found this book very informative and intriguing. I believe that with great influence comes greater responsibility. I believe Mansfield is right when he says that Oprah doesn’t know who she is. Mansfield describes Oprah’s faith system this way, “She found no tension in blending a Hindu version of reality with ancestor worship with chanting Hindu mantras with The Secret’s Law of Attraction with yoga with an animistic honoring of the spirits in nature with a belief in self-divinity with channeling with astrology with karma with the Bible with the certainty that right spirituality is rewarded with wealth and well-being with prayer to whatever force is god with the confidence we create the evil we experience with the unwavering assurance that a super-natural destiny rules human affairs. This was the buffet of beliefs she had chosen for herself and that she urged others to embrace as well.” I believe this book will be especially helpful to Christians. Anytime someone has the stage to influence millions of people, especially in the area of religion, to understand their beliefs is vital to defending a true biblical faith. If you place your convictions and standards on the altar of pride and self, you allow everyone else to define who you are. I recommend this book to all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Joshua Harris, in his new book, “Dug Down Deep; Building Your Life on Truths That Last” tells a personal growth story through the lens of a familiar parable told by Jesus Christ. He uses the story of two builders. One builder built his house upon the sand. The storm come against it and it fell. The other builder built his house upon a rock. The storm come against it and it stood. Dug Down Deep is a call for every believer to dig down and understand what God wants them to know that will lead them into a deeper and richer relationship  with Him. Harris maintains hat superficial understanding of the Bible will not hold when tried and tested by the storms of life.

The opening statement of the book sets the stage for the rest. Harris writes, “ We’re all theologians. The question is whether what we know about God is true.” Harris writes that doctrine, the proper understanding of God and what He is like, coupled with orthodoxy, the proper practice of what we know to be true about God, will make or break a believers walk with Christ. Harris deals with doctrinal matters in a way that takes them out of the classroom and places them into real-life practice. In each of his chapters, he deals with a different doctrinal discipline and makes it easy to understand. A few of those doctrines are: God, Jesus Christ, Salvation, the Bible, Sanctification, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.

I appreciate the path in which Harris took in writing this book. He has built the case for every believer becoming a student of God’s Word and not being afraid of digging deep. This book is well written, it is deep, but not overly academic. His personal story woven throughout the book is what makes the book believable. The study guide that is included in the book is a great tool for small group study. I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In our day, critics continually and consistently launch assaults on the validity, accuracy, reliability, and sufficiency of the Bible. Their thought seems to be that if the Bible can be reduced to just simply a collection of fables and stories, then there is no need for faith, repentance, Christianity, or even Christ Himself. In his latest book, “Has God Spoken? Proof of the Bible’s Divine Inspiration”, Hank Hanegraaff has written a powerful work that leaves no room for debate that God has truly spoken through His word. His proofs enable us to not only trust the Bible, but allow it change and guide our lives.

“Has God Spoken?” is separated into four major parts. The parts are presented by using the acrostic M-A-P-S; Manuscript Copies, Archaeological Spade, Prophetic Stars, and Scripture Lights. The first part of his book utilizes the subacronym (Hanegraaff’s term) C-O-P-I-E-S.  In this section, Hanegraaff tackles the object that errors, intended and unintended, were made in the copying of the original manuscripts which lead critics to sat the Bible is in no way accurate. The second part of his book utilizes the subacronym S-P-A-D-E. Hanegraaff demonstrates how archaeological discoveries prove the existence of, and are consistent with, places described in the Bible. The third part of his book utilizes the subacronym S-T-A-R-S. In this section, Hanegraaff shows how the truthfulness and validity of biblical prophecy only further prove the Bible’s accuracy. He also demonstrates how biblical prophecy is inconsistent with divination and predictors of the future. In his final part of the book, he uses the subacronym L-I-G-H-T-S. Here the author gives the reader tools to better understand biblical interpretation.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. Although this book is written by an apologist and serves as a defense for the validity of the Bible, it is not overly scholarly. This allows it to be used by Christians in every stage of their faith walk to better understand and be prepared to give a defense of the Bible’s accuracy. One thing I noticed seemed to get in the way. Within the subacronyms there were other acronyms that Hanegraaff likely intended to be helpful in further understanding his point. At times I found these distracting. That being said, “Has god Spoken?” is a great resource and a well-written and researched work. I highly recommend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”