In the book “Radical; Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream”, author and pastor David Platt clearly defines a struggle facing every believer. The struggles as he sees it one between whole-hearted and selfless obedience to Christ and the pursuit and enjoyment of the America Dream. Platt uses John T. Adams definition of the American dream. Adams said it is “a dream… in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are.”

 Platt paints two extremes for the reader. On the one side there is the modern-American Christian and church. He speaks of million dollar buildings, homes, and cars sitting in parking lots. He speaks of the modern Christian with fine clothes, more money than they need, and a disconnect from and a tolerance for the modern worship experience. On the other side are the house churches in countries where the gospel is illegal, believers who enjoy hours upon hours of bible study, and countries with little or no provision such as food, water, and shelter. Platt’s book is a call for us to be uncomfortable with what we have and with what others don’t have. It is a call for a new sense of obedience through understanding that our pursuit of the American Dream hinders the gospel from reaching the nations.

Platt builds his book in large parts to the story of the Rich Young Ruler of Mark 10. When asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus told this young man to go and sell his possessions and give it to the poor. Platt does a great job of carefully explaining that works are not the basis for salvation. Instead, if there is something in life that means more to us that Jesus, we must set it aside, whether money, status, etc. He uses real-life examples of people in his congregation that have taken the step toward radical obedience by selling their possessions in order to promote the gospel. I liked this book very much for the powerful message. Ultimately, Platt is calling every believer of Christ to a decision. The decision is this: Will we continue to enjoy all the benefits of the American Dream to the detriment of the nations? In the very end, it is a call for all us to determine and decide how much Jesus means to us and how far we are willing to follow Him.

 In John MacArthur’s latest book, “Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ”, he takes the reader back to the first-century concept of slavery. Through detailed research throughout the Scriptures and outside sources, MacArthur shows that in his studies the word for “slave” in the original Greek language has been incorrectly translated down through the centuries. With the word “slave” being translated as “servant” most of the time, MacArthur argues that the intent and meaning has lost its intended meaning. He argues that our concept and understanding of being a Christian and, as a result, a “slave of Christ” does not even come close to the unflattering reality of slave life. Throughout his book, Mac Arthur goes into great detail about the life and circumstances of slavery in first century Rome. He points out the relationship between slaves toward their masters and slaves toward other slaves and how these relationships mirror those of the believer and Jesus Christ. These portraits are both enlightening and sobering.

I enjoyed this book to a point. It is well researched and well written as all of John MacArthur’s books are. I was with MacArthur until he made the stretch to tie together his affirmation of the Doctrines of Grace, most notably particular redemption, with how first-century slave masters only paid for the slaves they wanted. He wrote, “The doctrine of particular redemption is also brought out by the marketplace language of the Scripture, where a business transaction or ransom is pictured. Christ’s death on the cross actually pays the penalty for the elect sinner, redeeming him from sin and rescuing him from God’s wrath. In Roman times, the master paid only for the slave he was purchasing. So also, the saving benefits of Christ’s redemptive work are applied only to those whom God has chosen for Himself.” Although I don’t agree with MacArthur theologically on this point, he has still written a thought-provoking book worthy of your time.

 I am immediately drawn to a book by its title. So, when I saw The Next Christians; The Good News About the End of Christian America by Gabe Lyons, I had to know what he meant by that. Lyons’ previous work, UnChristian which took a look at the conducts and actions that turned people away from the Christian faith is referenced several times in this book. It seems this book is the outflow of the previous work, whether that was the author’s intention or not. Lyons begins his book by examining the decline of Christianity in America by taking a look at the present reality that Christianity is losing its influence, respect, and strength in America. In a sometimes pessimistic tone, he puts forth categories that Christians have placed themselves into (Insiders, Culture-Warriors, Evangelizers, Blenders, and Philanthropists).

The second half of the book was much better than the first and carried a much more positive tone. Lyons speaks of the shift in the next generation of Christians from a faith that polarizes and pushes people away to a generation of Christians who are committed to the concept of restoration. He says this new generation of Christians will portray similar characteristics. These new Christians will be Provoked – not offended, Creators – not critics, Called – not employed, Grounded – not distracted, In Community – not alone, and Countercultural – not relevant. This section is by far the best part of the book. I am glad I stayed with it. The Next Christians is a helpful and insightful look into what the Christian faith was intended to reflect in this world.

 “Son of Hamas” is the story of Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, co-founder of Hamas, the Islamic Palestinian terrorist group opposed to the Israeli occupation of lands believed to belong to the Palestinians. It is this feud that is at the heart of the Middle East conflict today and is the backdrop for this book.

 More than a true story, “Son of Hamas” is a book about a journey. It is a journey of two men. For the father, it is a journey from the moderate religious side of Islam merely leading prayers and overseeing the community mosque to the political side of Islam. For the son, it is a much more complicated journey. Yousef loved Islam and loved only his father more. He saw the purity and ideal nature of Islam in his father; the love for the people and compassion for the poor and fatherless. As his father journeyed, so did he. “Son of Hamas” chronicles, as Yousef himself describes it, the climbing of the ladder of the Islamic faith.  His journey is one from faithful Muslim, to Israeli spy working for the Shin-Bet, to Christ-follower. This book is filled with real-life accounts of imprisonments (both of his and his father’s), torture, secret plans and operations, and acts of violence that would lead anyone to question whether or not the fighting was worth the end result.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a very quick and easy read that holds your attention. Anyone who even pays casual attention to world news has heard the name Hamas. This book does a very good job describing what Hamas is and how it relates to other organizations we hear about regularly. Well worth your time.

I was recently introduced to a brand new resource for new believers in Christ. “Start! The Bible for New Believers” edited by Greg Laurie, is a Bible designed with the new believer in mind. A new believer who has just given their life to Christ cannot be expected to know how to live for Christ immediately. Start! is a great resource to help them to begin their faith journey. Start! is in the New King James Version which I believe to be both a solid and dependable translation for someone beginning their spiritual walk.

 The bright orange cover and the use of color throughout the pages in the headings and articles are visually appealing. Each chapter has an introduction that is simple, clear, informative, and connective to the entirety of the Bible. Laurie has also included the following four features scattered throughout the Bible to assist the reader in better understanding and applying the text. LIVE are articles on the various topics of what it means to be a Christian. GROW are tips that give the reader helpful guidance on the key principles of the Christian faith (prayer, witnessing, etc). KNOW are articles highlighting the core beliefs of the Christian faith. LEARN are commentaries on key passages that help the reader understand crucial passages. Also included in the back of the book is a section entitled “Essentials” which is a series of questions designed to help the reader have a better understanding of who God and Jesus Christ is.

Start! is a wonderful resource. I believe it to be a great tool for someone just starting out as a believer, for someone who has been saved for a while but has not grown, and a great Bible for teenagers. I recommend this Bible. This is a resource of which the reader will benefit greatly.

American Christians take much for granted. We have an unlimited access to the Bible and are allowed to worship and proclaim our faith in Christ without fear of physical harm. Christians serving as missionaries in the Muslim world are not so fortunate. Which None Can Shut; Remarkable True Stories of God’s Miraculous Work in the Muslim World is an intriguing book by “Reema Goode” (her name has been changed for security reasons) that chronicles her experiences as a Christian living in a hostile Arab country. With passion and raw emotion she describes how God is opening doors for the proclamation of the gospel among the Muslim people group.

This book is about relationships. “Reema” speaks from the vantage point of a relationship-builder. She tells of her occasions to meet and get to personally know the women who were her neighbors. She takes the reader through her journey of taking time to get to know these women and their families and understand their Muslim culture and traditions. As trust was built from first being a friend, she was able to share the gospel with as the door opened.

I really enjoyed the honest and accurate portrayal of the Muslim culture in this book. For those of us with little or no experience with Islam of the Muslim faith, Which None Can Shut gives some much needed and helpful insight. This book helped to know how I can better pray for Muslims around the world. Whether intentional or not, “Reema” gives the reader practical steps to beginning a dialogue with someone of the Muslim faith.  If you want to know how to pray for Muslims, and also how to pray for the missionaries working to reach them for Christ, you will find this book encouraging, helpful, and enlightening.

As a pastor, I try to do as much reading on the subjects of the gospel and the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as I can. So, when I saw the title of Chris Seay’s book, “The Gospel According to Jesus; A Faith That Restores All Things”, I was interested. I had really high hopes for this book, but I must admit that I walked away from it disappointed. The Gospel According to Jesus deals heavily with the subject of righteousness and where true righteousness comes from. A good portion of this subject deals with a survey that Seay commissioned through Barna seeking insight into how professing Christians view the idea of righteousness.

This book was hard to follow. Seay, in an attempt to make his point, didn’t connect the dots for me. Between the survey, interview questions after each chapter, and the color picture inserts, it just did not come together cohesively. The one thing missing from the book that was offered in the title was the gospel. I had hoped to read more about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the gospel. I understand this was a book written about faith, but not much was given about the root of saving faith. If you are looking for a book that expounds the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, this is not it.

Depending on the environment you grew up in, the concept of chores may be a familiar or foreign one. Raising Able; How Chores Cultivate Capable Confident Young People by Susan Tordella argues the value of children taking an active part in the family unit through chores in order to build confidence, discipline, and a sense of contribution. Tordella’s point is well taken. She relates that too often in today’s family children are not expected to make a contribution to the family unit and that parents end up waiting on their children like servants. This non-expectation leads to a sense of entitlement and selfishness as children grow into young adults.

Tordella calls on her experience as a mother of four in the writing of this book. I enjoyed the fact that the advice and counsel given to parents comes from methods that have been proven in the laboratory of the family unit. I also enjoyed the testimonies offered by many that spoke of the value of chores at a young age. There is a lot of information in this book, yet it is not overwhelming. The author stresses the importance of family meetings, chore charts, age-appropriate chores, and consequences for not following through on chore without beating up the parent.

Susan Tordella has written a humorous, real-life, and down-to-earth book that is worth your time and attention. I believe parents would benefit from her experiences and counsel in making chores a vital part of healthy families and healthy children. I want to thank Susan for sending me a copy of this book for read and review.