Public speaking. The very mention strikes fear into the hearts of millions. To be asked to stand in front of a group of strangers and speak to them for any period of time could be classified as worst-case scenario for many. As a pastor, public speaking is my life. I regularly stand before groups of people of all sizes and deliver a prepared sermon. As a result, my public speaking class in college was waived due to “life experience” (thankfully). The fear of public speaking is often made up of smaller uncertainties and concerns. Questions such as “Will they like me?” “Do I know enough to be speaking on this subject?” and “How do I manage my time?” fuel the fear. Author, conference speaker, and founder of Dynamic Communications International Ken Davis has written a new book entitled, “Secrets of Dynamic Communication”. In his book, Davis reveals his tried-and-true methods for becoming a better public speaker.

Davis’ book is split into three parts; The Preparation: The SCORRE Process, The Presentation: The SCORRE Delivery, and The Application: The SCORRE Advantage. These three sections also provide the framework of an effective speech, sermon, or talk. In section one; Davis introduces the reader to the SCORRE acronym. SCORRE, as Davis refers to it is “acronym that describes the basic process for developing any talk.” Davis begins with the Subject of the talk and then moves down the narrowing path to the Central Theme. Next is the Objective which is simply a sentence that forces the speaker to clearly state what the talk will be about. From there, Davis begins to build strong foundation with the Rationale. This is the logical content of the talk that should “lead the listener to your objective.” Resources are the stories, illustrations, and data that bring life to the talk. Finally, Evaluation is the ongoing process of self-examination. Chapters two through five provide further in-depth detail on each SCORRE element.

In section two, Davis deals with the delivery of the talk, message, or sermon. It is here that he reveals the importance of involving the audience, body language (voice, appearance, eye contact), and setting up an environment conducive to better communication (lighting, sound, etc.). In section three, Davis deals with application. It is here that he deals with matters such as time management and humor. Davis concludes with the characteristics of an effective communicator. He uses Aristotle’s thought that “every communicator must have the qualities of logos, ethos, and pathos.” Logos is associated with logical order and reasoning. Ethos refers to moral character and passion. Finally, pathos refers to the ability of a communicator to get in touch with the audience’s feelings and emotions.

“Secrets of Dynamic Communications” is a good book. It is easy to read yet still requires serious thought. I really enjoyed the style and flow of the book. The charts, outlines, ad samples were especially helpful. This is a book that I will greatly benefit from as a pastor. If you have a fear of public speaking, and that is a part of your profession, I highly recommend this book to you.

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.”

America Christianity is relatively safe. We worship in comfortable buildings with people who believe as we do. Our churches operate within more than adequate budgets with tried and true programs for every age of person. We are free to share our faith publicly. We are free to distribute and read God’s Word without reprise. Wrapped up in all of this institutionalized safety is the individual Christian taking fewer and fewer risks for, and in advance of their faith. We choose safety over danger, average over extreme, comfort over chaos, and the known over the risky.

I recently finished Caleb Bislow’s new book “Dangerous; Engaging the People and Places No One Else Will”. Bislow is a former youth pastor who left behind his job with the church, which he considered to safe, to pursue a call to go to places no one else has. Bislow is now part of Kingdom Building Ministries where he oversees a program called Stranded. This program is a missionary training program for Christians who want to be, as Bislow says, “radical”. This training is meant to be a week-long simulation of ministering to the lesser-known and less-safe places in the world; all from a pasture in Nebraska.

The book chronicles Bislow’s personal journey(s). It is the story of his personal journey from safe and comfortable to the “dark, despised, and dangerous” people and places of the world. Bislow recalls how the vision of an African boy standing in front of an airplane holding a staff served as the genesis of his calling to, and burden for, the people of Africa. A significant portion of the book (sections one and two) covers the events of Bislow eventually preaching to the Maasai people of Africa; quitting his job, fundraising, securing travel and guides, and the difficult journey the Maasai. Section Three, treacherous Territory, is the best of the book. Here, he draws attention to the people around the world who are rarely helped and most often forgotten. There people are the Unreached, Uncontacted, Restricted, Hunted, Convicted, Infected, Marginalized, Discriminated Against, and the Enslaved. Bislow shares his trips to these people groups (lepers, gypsies, prisoners, refuges, and prostitutes). I appreciated this section greatly as it highlighted many of the desperate people whom the civilized world has forgotten. In sections four and five, Bislow demonstrates the ways in which these people can be reached and calls for more Christians to leave what is safe and live dangerously.

As much as I would not like to, I can’t help but describe “Dangerous” as oversimplified, unbalanced, prideful, self-glorifying, and corny. As Bislow travels the world and reaches out to these isolated people groups, he rarely mentions the difficulty of the travel. I have traveled overseas on mission trips and nothing goes as smoothly as the author describes it. It seems to me that from his writing all went well all the time. He doesn’t mention the negative responses to the gospel invitation from those he spoke with. This leaves the book unbalanced. In my opinion, this book feels like a “been there, done that” type of work from the author. I would like to have read more about the challenges he faced on the ground and how they were overcome. Instead, the reader is given simply get on a plane to Africa with what one chapter calls a “backpack, burden, and a Bible”. I’m afraid that Bislow’s thrill-seeking expeditions do not recognize the missional framework that is necessary to sustain long-term disciple-making processes among these people groups.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House 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.”

As a pastor, I enjoy reading behind authors who write on topics such as faith, religion, Christianity, the church, and missions. I also enjoy reading behind those authors who delve into the deeper areas such as; the reluctance of the Christian to share their faith with others, the widespread persecution against the church, the decline of the church in America, and the seemingly growing trend of Christians divorcing themselves from the church. It was for the reasons above that I was intrigued by Eric Shuster’s new book, “Where Are the Christians? The Unrealized Potential of a Divided Religion”. Shuster is the director of the Foundation for Biblical Studies and regularly studies the faith of Christians today. Shuster sets out to solve the mystery as to where the Christians are today.

Shuster divides his book into four sections. In Section One, Who Are The Christians? A History, Shuster looks at the rise of the Christian faith through four time periods beginning with Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. In Section Two, What Is a Christian? A Definition, an attempt is made to generate a concise and exact definition for a Christian. In Section Three, Where Are The Christians? A Categorization, Shuster offers a his perspective as to the location of Christians today. He says they are leaving, hiding, vacillating, and endeavoring. In Section Four, How is Christianity to Unite? A Vision, he recommends four areas that can be strengthened to bring the Christian faith together (individual, family, church, and community).

I did not like this book at all. Section one was by far the best one. His summary of the Christian faith and the growth of the church through evangelism, corruption, and conflict were very well written and insightful. However, Shuster could have stopped after the first section and he would have had a much better book. Shuster’s attempt to define “Christian” is confusing, convoluted, and all-encompassing. As a result, there is no clear definition for the subject of his book. In sections three and four, Shuster inclusion of  graphs, lists, surveys, and charts serve no other purpose than to further muddy the waters. The number one issue I have with “Where Are the Christians?” is the erroneous theology. For example, Shuster writes, “How important is baptism? Jesus told Nicodemus, ‘verily I say unto you thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) The phrase ‘kingdom of God’ is interpreted in various ways with a common interpretation being ‘the Lord’s Church’. Using this interpretation, baptism is therefore not only a saving ordinance taught by Jesus Christ, but it is also a means of entering into a covenant as a member of the Lord’s Church”. It is my prayer that an individual who is seeking the Lord and has questions about personal salvation does not pick up this book. I cannot in good faith recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Cedar Fort Publishing and Media 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.”

Addictions dot the landscape of our homes, families, businesses, schools, and churches today. Everyday people battle enslavement to everything from alcohol to drugs, food to work, success to sex. In his new book, “Finally Free; Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace”, author Heath Lambert deals head-on with an addiction that is destroying the moral fabric of America today; pornography. This book is not about pornography, per se. This is not a book that will tell how many are involved in the industry. This is not a book that will reveal how many billions of dollars the porn industry generates every year. This book will not tell you anything about the avenues by which individuals view pornography every day. The purpose of this book, in Lambert’s own words, “is about something much better than pornography. This book is about the amazing power of Jesus Christ to free you from pornography. In this book, I want to share with you the amazing depth and affect of Christ’s power to eradicate pornography from your life”.

In Finally Free, Lambert lays out a series of practical steps for those who are struggling with pornography. His book contains nine chapters in which he lays out eight methods meant to help a person battling pornography. Lambert begins with the pivotal aspect of this battle; God’s grace. He speaks of the forgiving and transforming graces of God that make freedom possible. His forgiving grace forgives the individual of partaking in pornography and His transforming grace takes away the desire to view by filling the individual with more of Christ Himself. Lambert speaks of eight methods of battle. He writes of using sorrow, accountability, confession, humility, gratitude, and several others to fight off the desires to engage in pornography. It is not a matter of “check all boxes and be free”; rather, his book leaves the reader with practical means of applying God’s grace to their life. His theology is so solid that the eight methods could be applied against any addiction with positive results.

Of all the books that have been written recently in the “resist pornography” arena, Finally Free is head and shoulders above the rest. His book is practical, humble, loving and balances scripture, personal stories, and humor perfectly. This book will help those struggling with pornography, as well as those who are walking along side someone in the battle. Smart. Powerful. This will be one of those books that will remain at the front of the pornography addiction conversation for years to come. I highly recommend.

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

I don’t think it is a big secret that many Christians struggle with, and as a result, shy away from the Old Testament. With its laws, sacrifices, battles, lists of genealogies, and at times “doom and gloom” outlook, many are asking “why should I bother with it at all?” On the other hand, the New Testament draws the reader in. Why wouldn’t it? It is here that we can see Jesus clearly. It is here that we see the love of God clearly through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus. It is here we see fewer “laws”, the One Sacrifice, the battle against the enemy won at Calvary, and the Name above All Names magnified. Who wouldn’t want to read about this? Some even go as far as to say that you won’t find Jesus in the Old Testament at all. In his new book, “Jesus on Every Page; 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament”, pastor and professor David Murray shares his personal struggle in making the connection between the clearly seen Jesus Christ of the New Testament and the not-so-seen Jesus Christ of the Old Testament.

Murray’s book is divided into two parts. Part One, My Road to Emmaus, chronicles the author’s personal journey of discovering Jesus in the Old Testament. Here, he looks to the words the apostles Paul, John, Peter, and to Jesus Christ Himself as evidence for the presence of Christ throughout the Old Testament. In Part Two, Spiritual Heartburn, Murray outlines the 10 ways to discover Jesus in the Old Testament:

Christ’s Planet (Jesus in Creation)

Christ’s People (Jesus in OT Characters)

Christ’s Presence (Jesus in OT Appearances)

Christ’s Precepts (Jesus in OT Law)

Christ’s Past (Jesus in OT History)

Christ’s Prophets

Christ’s Pictures (Jesus in OT Types)

Christ’s Promises (Jesus in OT Covenants)

Christ’s Proverbs

Christ’s Poems

I found two chapters to be especially helpful. In Christ’s Precepts, Murray deals with the Old Testament Mosaic Law in relation to Jesus Christ. Instead of insisting that Jesus replaces the Law, he shows how Jesus was the fulfillment highlighting the aspects of retribution, restitution, deterrence, and rehabilitation. In Christ’s Promises, Murray deals simply and smartly with Old Testament covenants. He defines what covenant is, who was affected by them, and how Jesus is the ultimate theme of them all. “Jesus on Every Page” is a good book. I really enjoyed the style of writing: simple, to the point, and personal. Well documented and written, Murray has a book that will help not just pastors or teachers find Jesus in the canon of scripture, but all believers who want to better understand the Old Testament.

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.”

As a pastor, I encounter the challenges of leading and ministering to multiple generations on a daily basis. Each one has their own preferences. Each one has their own experiences that have shaped how they think and react. I am learning more and more every day that a “one size fits all” approach to leadership is counter-productive and frustrating to everyone involved in the leadership circle. I have asked questions much like these (to myself) many times. “Why can’t everyone look at this the same way?” “Where did that response come from?” “How can we get hung up on something a small as this?” I believe I have finally found an answer. In “Sticking Points; How to Get Four Generations Working Together in the Twelve Places They Come Apart:, author and conference speaker Haydn Shaw casts a very bright and much needed light on the reasons why multiple generations do instinctively sync when it comes to decision-making, values, and priorities.

Shaw calls this friction “sticking points”. These points are areas of life and work that are most likely to cause conflict and disagreement between generations. Shaw begins by identifying the four age groups (generations) most commonly identified by researchers. These four groups become the comparison/contrast throughout the rest of the book. He begins with the Traditionalists (those born before 1945). This generation is marked by the Great Depression, World War II, and the move from the farm to the city. Shaw then moves to the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). This generation is marked by an incredible post-World War II birth rate, the influence of television as a unifying influence, and a spirit of optimism. The third group is Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980). I fall in the exact center of this generation. This generation is marked by high divorce rate, the introduction of the term “latchkey” kids, high recession rates, and skepticism as seen in a lack of faith in institutions (government, corporation, religion). Finally, Shaw highlights Millennials (those born between 1981-2001). Millennials are marked by over-protective parents, the technology boom, 9/11, and have grown up with metal detectors, airport security, terrorism, and a sense of immediate gratification.

Chapter four though seven are invaluable in understanding what makes each generation think and react the way they do. Shaw refers to these observations as “ghost stories”, meaning the influences and events that have pre-conditioned their outlook on life today. These chapters alone would be worth the price of the book itself. Shaw moves on to detail the twelve sticking points most commonly experienced. The points are: communication, decision making, dress code, feedback, fun at work, knowledge transfer, loyalty, meetings, policies, respect, training, and work ethic. Shaw dedicates an entire chapter to each sticking point. Each chapter as well has a five-step plan for dealing with each point. These five steps for leading through generational differences are: acknowledge (talk about the differences), appreciate (focus on the why and not the what), flex (agree as to how to accommodate), leverage (maximize the strength of each generation), and resolve (deciding which option is best when flexing isn’t enough).

Shaw has written an excellent book. Sticking Points is a book that I needed at this point in my life. I have seen the generational breakdown that Shaw highlights. I have never seen it explained in such a simple, informational, and precise way. Although business leaders will benefit greatly from this book, parents will as well. One of the things that infuriates me most is that my sixteen year old son can’t seem to put down his phone for more than ten seconds. This book helped me understand that he, as a Millennial, utilizes technology to maintain contact with his “tribe” of friends whose plans are extremely fluid. I get it. I rarely label a book as “must read”. However, this is no doubt one of those. Whether you are a CEO, teacher, pastor, or community leader, Sticking Points will prove to be worth your time and energy. It is a book that will read several times. A five-star book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House 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.”

“And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9

I enjoy the probing questions that are found throughout the Bible. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Saul, on his way to Damascus was asked by Jesus, “Why are you persecuting Me?” In 1 Kings 19:9, we find another such question. After Elijah’s victory over Baal on Mt. Carmel, he finds himself on the run from Ahab’s wife, hold up in a cave. It is during this cave experience that God asked Elijah a powerful question: “What are you doing here Elijah?”

First of all, God knew why Elijah was in that cave and what brought him there. The question was not so much for information as it was intended to stir up something inside of Elijah. It was as if God was asking, “How did you get from the place where you were confident, fearless, and willing to defend my name, to hiding out in a cave, fearful of the king’s wife and feeling like you are all alone?” What happened?

I believe at times God asks the same question to us. As I mentioned, Elijah had a cave experience. We have them too. Elijah lost his focus. So do we. God wants to know from us how we can go from the high places of trust to the low places of doubt and fear when He is unchanging. If God asks you today, “What are you doing here?” What are you going to say?