It has been said that our belief about the future will have a positive or negative effect upon our life in the present. In his new book, “Futureville; Discover Your Purpose for Today by Reimagining Tomorrow”, author Skye Jethani writes about two different tension-filled times: today and tomorrow. He sets these times against each other by using the 1939 World’s Fair as an example of this tension. The World’s Fair came at a time when Americans were still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression. Into this period of poverty and hopelessness, the World’s Fair offered a look into a future that was brighter, overtly optimistic, and nothing like current reality. This glimpse of hope and “what might be” enabled Americans to better handle “what currently is”. Jethani writes, “How we interpret our present suffering, our work, our purposes, even our relationships is defined by how we think about what lies ahead.”

Futureville appears to have two main sections. The first section deals with the ways in which people generally approach the future. Jethani offers three viewpoints. Evolution offers the world hope that the human race can make the world a better place. Evacuation speaks of the desire of being pulled out of this world before it crashes in around us. Jethani writes of Resurrection, “Still, the incarnation of Christ among us and his cultivation of order, beauty, and abundance is not all there is to this third pathway to Futureville. Jesus came to give us more than mere glimpses of hope. He came to unleash a power that would make all things new.” In the second section, Jethani describes those things that will be made new: vocation, order, beauty, abundance, and hope.

Futureville is an okay book. There is nothing earth-shattering within the covers. I had high hopes for this book. After reading the introduction and diagnostic questions Jethani asked, coupled with the brilliant World’s Fair analogy, I was disappointed that he never connected dots. I found this book to be repetitive and disjointed, making it hard to follow. I would not recommend this book.

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.”

There are millions upon millions of people in this world today who are without Christ. They do not know the freedom of forgiveness. They do not know what true joy is. They do not know what it is like to have a heavenly advocate. They do not know the blessing of an abundant life. On the other hand, there are millions upon millions who are in Christ (belonging to Him through a personal relationship). Their life is much different. They understand and appreciate forgiveness. Joy marks their lives. They lean on their heavenly advocate and enjoy an abundant and full life here made possible through God’s gift of salvation. In his new book, “Life in Christ; Becoming and Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ”, pastor and author Jeremy Walker explores the natural progression of the Christian life; moving from knowing Christ personally, following Christ intentionally, and becoming like Christ ultimately. The Bible speaks of the “unsearchable riches of Christ” that belong to the Christian as a result of being “in” Him. Walker explains how or understanding and appreciation or these “riches” will enable the believer to be a true disciple of Christ.

Life in Christ delves into the areas of a believer’s relationship with Christ that do not often receive a great deal of attention. walker explores six critical areas which make up the great majority of the book. In chapter one, Walker deal with the believer’s call to salvation and the promise of God to save. In chapter two, the believer’s position of being “in” Christ is more fully developed. In chapter three, Walker brings to the forefront what the “unsearchable riches” of Christ are: joy, grace, power, to name a few. Chapter four deals with the believer’s adoption as sons and daughters of God. The author gives chapter five to the positive and negative sides of a believer’s assurance of salvation. Finally, speaking again positively and negatively, the marks of a true believer are explained.

Life in Christ is a much-needed work. Walker invites his readers on a journey into a deeper walk with Christ by reminding them of all that is theirs because of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Written from a pastor’s heart and a scholar’s mind, Life in Christ is an encouraging and challenging work. I highly recommend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from CrossFoucsed Reviews 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.”

Voices. Many, many voices. Voices of praise. Voices of discouragement. Thoughts of worthlessness. Voices of sorrow. Thoughts of inferiority. Voices of criticism. Our lives are filled with the voices and thoughts that are competing for the prime real estate that is our mind. Every day we must decide which thoughts and voices we will give attention to and which ones we won’t. The choices we make here may determine how effective and productive we become in life. In his new book, “Crash the Chatterbox; Hearing God’s Voice Above All Others”, pastor and author Steven Furtick exposes the reader to the enemy’s continual and strategic barrage of negative and harassing thoughts whose purpose is to cripple the believer’s confidence and effectiveness. Furtick refers to these thoughts as a “chatterbox”. The chatterbox is the collection of lies that that keep us from reaching out full potential. Furtick writes, “But let’s think together about the possibility that 80 percent of our thoughts are not only devoid of any power to help us but actually work against us. When we allow thoughts to go unchecked, a steady drip of lies cements the wrong patterns within our minds, building a Berlin Wall of bad beliefs.”

The scaffolding for “Crash the Chatterbox” is four confessions that are, in the author’s words, “meant to function like noise-canceling headphones for your mind, heart, and soul. These are truths about God and truths about you that come straight from God’s Word.” These confessions, which also make up the book’s four sections, are:

Confession #1: God Says I Am – Overpowering the lies of the enemy in your insecurities.

Confession #2: God Says He Will – Overpowering the lies of the enemy in your fears.

Confession #2: God Says He Has – Overpowering the lies of the enemy in your condemnation.

Confession #4: God Says I Can – Overpowering the lies of the enemy in your discouragement.

These four confessions are meant to revolutionize the way we think and to help us respond to the thoughts and voices that mimic an irritating Facebook feed. Each of the four sections is built around a particular category of chatter and the confession relating to God’s dealings with it. In each section, Furtick uses personal experiences powerfully and God’s Word ultimately to show how each believer can possess the victory over the enemy’s crippling chatter. Each section has its own strengths and highlights. However, Chapter Nine, Counterfeit Conviction, is the most powerful one and is worth the book’s price itself. Furtick sums up the purpose of these confessions with this statement, “The change the confessions will make n out lives are revolutionary. Not because the confessions are fancy or brilliant, but simply because they are powerful. And they are God’s truths.”

Cleverly titled and simply written, “Crash the Chatterbox” is a great work. Furtick’s writing style is unique. It is a mixture of flamboyance and passion tempered with heart-felt transparency. Of his previous works, Sun Stand Still and Greater, Crash the Chatterbox is by far the best. It is obvious that Furtick’s writing comes from the overflow of what God is doing in his life. Read it.

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.”

Western Christianity enjoys a safe existence. We do not see churches burned and bombed simply because Christians meet in them like we do in other parts of the world. We do not see Christians imprisoned for simply possessing a Bible like we do in other parts of the world. We do not see outlandish laws passed to intimidate Christians like we do in other parts of the world. We do not see court proceedings deliberately punish Christians like we do in other parts of the world. Christians in Asia, Africa, and Europe deal with the above issues and many more every day for only one reason: they choose to believe in and worship Jesus Christ. In his new book, “The Global War on Christians; Dispatches from the Frontline of Anti-Christian Persecution”, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and senior Vatican analyst for CNN John L. Allen, Jr writes of the challenges, atrocities, and persecution that the greater majority of Christians are facing in the world today.

Allen’s book is divided into three sections. In section one, Anti-Christian Persecution Around the World, Allen begins with an in-depth introduction that gives the book a firm footing. Allen takes a moment to define the word “persecution” ad introduces the various forms that it takes on. These forms include discrimination (societal, institutional, employment, legal), suppression of Christian missionary activity, suppression of conversion to Christianity, suppression of corporate worship, forced conversion from Christianity, violence against individuals, and community oppression. Allen them gives specific, heart-breaking, and eye-opening of Christians who have been persecuted throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Middle East, and Eastern Europe. He highlights individual countries within these regions of the world. Within each region, Allen profiles a single individual who suffered as a result of faith in Jesus Christ. In section two, Myths About the Global War on Christians, Allen gives the reader the common myths that surround the persecution of Christians. These myths include:

1. Christians are at risk only where they’re a majority.

2. No one saw it coming.

3. It’s all about Islam.

4. It’s only persecution if the motive is religious.

5. Anti-Christian persecution is political issue.

This is arguably the best section in the book. Dealing with each myth individually, Allen brings real-life experiences to bear on his arguments that these myths have been hindering proper communication of just how prevalent this persecution is. For each myth, Allen explains why each myth is “toxic”. In section three, Fallout, Consequences, and Response, Allen introduces what could be called the “domino effect” of persecution in the societal and political arenas. He also deals with the consequences anti-Christian persecution. Because Christians are being persecuted, there are real and measurable side-effects. So that the reader does not believe that nothing can be done in this war, Allen concludes by giving areas if involvement which includes prayer, thinking globally about the church, institutional humanitarian relief, and several others.

“The Global War on Christians” is a timely, well-researched, and concise work. Allen’s telling of the stories of fellow Christians enduring torture and hatred for their faith is encouraging, but also sobering. Because of his association and travels with news media outlets, Allen has been able to witness this war first hand. Allen’s book is not just another “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”. Although Allen recounts the lives of these martyrs, it is also a call to action to become more aware of the assault upon Christians today. Saddening. Inspirational. Convicting. I would highly recommend this book to all Christians who want to better understand the struggles and challenges that other Christ-followers have to endure in all of the not-so-safe places in the world.

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.”