Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is a somewhat controversial figure. Everyone has or is looking for an answer to the question, "Who is (or was) Jesus Christ?" There is very little denying that Jesus was a real person who really walked the earth in the first century AD, but one you get past that there are many divergent answers. The most popular scholarly thing to do in 21st century American culture is to join the quest for the "Historical Jesus." This view examines Jesus through a historical lens and sometimes discounts scripture as a valid source for understanding Jesus. Apart from discounting scripture, I think that it is valid and helpful to see Jesus through the lens of first century Jewish (and Roman) culture. Where this can fall short, however, is looking at the bigger picture of who Jesus is beyond his life on earth. This is why Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola have written Jesus: A Theography. It is their belief, that while these historical pictures of Jesus are helpful, they are lacking the life of Christ before and after incarnation. The ultimate goal of their book Jesus is to give a picture of Christ in light of the entirety of scripture and not just within the Gospels.

Sweet and Viola begin before the beginning. As a member of the trinity, the Son is eternal existing before the creation of the word. Because of this, Jesus tries to paint a picture of the eternal relationship of the trinity that existed before the creation of the world. From there, they move to the creation of the world itself. This is likely where some will begin to disagree with the interpretation of Creation. Sweet and Viola look for Christ in the days of creation and interpret them somewhat allegorically. They describe how the days of creation illustrate the earthly life of Christ told in the gospels. For those who interpret the Bible literally, this description of Creation might be a bit of a stretch. Once you get beyond this section, however, the book turns to the usual topics of discussion. From the Creation account, Sweet and Viola turn to the earthly life and ministry of Christ. This section of the book is an in depth look at who Jesus is and what he did on earth. The last few chapters book tell the life of Christ after the resurrection and discuss the inevitable return of Christ.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's not a short read, but it is time well spent. Even in the sections where some might disagree with their interpretation, Sweet and Viola do a fantastic job of digging into the life of Jesus Christ. This is a book that almost anyone can read. They do a great job of showing their research and giving good explanatory notes. While it may not be deemed as scholarly as some works, they have certainly shown their work and anyone studying Jesus would benefit from reading this book. If you are looking for a great biography to read, I suggest Jesus: A Theography. It would an appropriate read for the Christmas season or to start the new year.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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.”

What does it take to be Greater?

Many of us want to achieve greatness, but according to Steven Furtick this is a vague and unrealistic goal of being better that doesn't really work. There are so many ways that the world and even the church define greatness that it's impossible to know what it will really take to become great. On the other hand, there are plenty of us who are just trying to get by. We live in the world of good enough and live a life of mediocrity. Furtick suggest that instead being good enough or shoot for the vague idea of greatness, that we need to aim at being greater.

Furtick takes his title from John 14:12 where Jesus tells his disciples, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these." He is encouraging his readers to be greater. God has called us to the greater life and has promised that we will do greater things. Using Elisha as an example, Furtick shows how partnering with God will lead to a life do doing greater things for God's kingdom. He doesn't lay out a formula or give some special secret that will lead to greatness, the secret is God working through his people. When we let God shape our life, our dreams, our goals, and our purpose then he will use us to do those greater things.

Greater is a fairly easy read and isn't very long. On the surface it seems like just another self-help book that will make you a better person, but Furtick doesn't do that. He emphasizes God's place in our lives and how following him will lead to a greater life. This is the strength of this book, it's about God. Even though he is writing about your life, the focus is on God. The weakness of this book is that in some aspects it's fairly vague, but I think that's because he isn't giving a formula. Instead, he is presenting a lifestyle that has to be lived out. The specifics of the greater life are filled in by the reader. If you want to read this book, I would suggest reading it with another person or with a group. This is a book that is geared toward action. I think the real value of this book would be in the conversation and dreaming that it inspires. The message is fairly simple, but living out the greater life will take some work and is best done in community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 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.”

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Review of the Voice Bible

Last year I had the opportunity to review The Voice New Testament. I very much enjoyed, so I was thrilled to have the chance to review the whole Bible. Needless to say, I love to have the whole Bible in this new version.

Here's a quick review of what I liked about it previously: The Voice is a collaboration of many scholars, artists, and pastors. It is not just the work of one person, and it is not just the work of scholars. I think that it is fantastic that artists have been included in the translation process since so much of the Bible, especially the old testament, is poetry. Again, while reading The Voice, it didn't feel like the typical paraphrase. It still reads like a Biblical translation. It feels like it is using language that would be familiar to someone who has read the Bible and yet easier to understand for those who do not have much experience with the Bible.

As far as the translation is concerned. think The Voice offers one of the best paraphrase/dynamic equivalents thus far. The majority of the translation is done like any other version of the Bible with any additions are in italics so that it is easy to see when these additions have been made. And the additions don't really add a new content to the text, instead they add explanation.

Something that I didn't note last time are the notes in the Bible. At the beginning of each book, there is about a page of introduction. Also, there are added notes interspersed within the text itself. These notes  are highly beneficial for understanding how to read each book and the background of the text.

I still think that this is a fantastic addition to anyone's Bible reading. I'm still hoping that it will be available for Logos so that I can have it in that form. If you are eager to read it, you can look up various passages on their website www.hearthevoice.com. I highly encourage you to check out this translation and considering purchasing it at some point.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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.”

From the Library of C.S. Lewis

While in school, I loved it whenever a teacher would share about the books and authors that shaped their thinking and teaching. It helps me to understand why they think they way they do. Many, including myself, consider C.S. Lewis to be a teacher. Although he never directly taught me, his works have helped to shape me and the way that I think. From the Library of C.S. Lewis allows those of us who have been mentored by the writings of Lewis to pull back the curtain and read from the authors that mentored him. James Stuart Bell has compiled selections from some of the works that Lewis read and learned from. The selections include works from G.K. Chesterton, George MacDonald, George Herbert, Thomas Aquinas, Andrew Murray, Augustine, Brother Lawrence, Beowulf, Aristotle, C.G. Jung, Owen Barfield, and Julian of Norwich. This is a collection of great works and authors all of which were found in Lewis's library and influenced him.

This book is a wonderful resource to anyone who has been influenced by Lewis or to someone who is studying the work of Lewis. The readings have been organized by topic which would make it easy study specific topics alongside the works of Lewis. I think that Bell has done a great service to anyone wanting to study Lewis and his works. The only downside to this book is that it is only selections from the writers who influenced Lewis. It is hard to just sit down and read through, it is merely readings organized by topic. As I read through sections of it, I found myself wanting some commentary on how these works influenced his thinking or references to his work to show how these readings connected to his work. The book, however, is what it says it is. Bell does not explain anything, he is merely presenting. While I wish I had some more explanation, the book itself is impressive and would have taken a lot of work just to put together.


I would recommend this book to anyone studying Lewis or someone has read a great deal of Lewis. This would be a good companion to any serious reader of Lewis. I could also seeing this book being useful from a devotional standpoint. The readings are short and organized by topic. My only warning is for those who might be looking for an explanation of how these works shaped Lewis. This book is all readings and no commentary. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 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.”

Graduating

This Saturday, I will be graduating from LCU with my M.A. in Christian Education. Today at a luncheon honoring seminary graduates, I had the opportunity to share how my time at LCU shaped me. I thought that it would be appropriate to share this on my blog as well since my time at Lincoln has been very important to me.

"For the last seven years, I have called Lincoln Christian University my home, four of those years in undergrad and the last three in seminary. I’m extremely thankful for the way that LCU has shaped me, especially in my time at seminary. I finished college not knowing exactly what God had in store for me, and going to seminary helped to me to better understand what my passions are. As I have progressed through my degree, it has become more clear where God is leading me and how he is shaping me for ministry. Through the Seminary at Lincoln, God has been equipping me so that I can equip others.

Through this process, I have gained a better understanding of myself. I understand my personality better and how I fit in God’s kingdom. This was one of my main questions when I finished my undergraduate studies. In a seemingly extroverted world, I wondered how God wanted to use an introvert like me. Now I better understand who I am, my strengths, the gifts and abilities that God has given me, and also the areas that I need where to be challenged. The seminary has helped to give me this self-awareness that will help me in ministry.

Seminary has also taught me the importance of study. This isn’t learning for the sake of having more knowledge, but studying to be a better servant leader. Even though I have completed my degree, my education is not done. It is important to continually study to better understand God’s word and the work to which he has called us.

For all of this, I just want to say thank you. Lincoln Christian University has played an important role in my life. It shaped not only my life, but the lives of my grandpa, my parents, and my wife. The education that I have received here will shape my ministry for many years to come. To all of the professors, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for devoting your lives to teaching God’s word with integrity. You make LCU what it is and I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to learn from you all whether it was in class, in chapel, at the Bible and Theology symposiums, or over coffee at the Estep’s house. I pray that the ministry of LCU will continue for many years and continue to positively shape the lives and ministry of its students just as it has shaped me."

How to be Secretly Incredible

Most people want to live incredible lives. We want to make an impact and change the world. Bob Goff is one of those people. He wants to make an impact on the world, and, in fact, he is making an impact in the world. In his book Love Does, he wants to show the reader how to be incredible. Even though the subtitle of the book is "Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World," this book does not offer the reader five easy steps or some other formula for success. Instead, Bob shares stories from his life. Some of the stories are humorous, some exciting, and others very moving. Each story relates to one main theme: Love Does. Bob writes this story to motivate his readers to take action. He wants you to go out and do something. So much so that he even includes his phone number at the end so that you can call him and talk about the ideas in the book. Love doesn't just plan things out, love is acted out. He writes, "Secretly incredible people just do things." Bob doesn't plan much. He knows what he wants to do and does it, and he doesn't let any worry or doubt stand in his way.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Bob writes in a very personal way like he wants you to be his friend. In fact, it becomes apparent that he knows no strangers, so much so, I've chosen not to refer to him as "Goff" even though that is proper for authors you don't know. It was certainly a very moving book and different than the typical inspirational Christian books I have read. He doesn't lay out a plan or steps. He just tells stories. He wants us to live. Bob believes that God wants Christians to do something. I suggest that you go and read this book. It's not a complicated read or even a deep read, but it's a good read. It straightforward and has a simple message: Do something. Through stories of his own life, Bob shows us that living an incredible life starts with doing something. In addition, simply by buying the book you will be on your way to doing something since all the proceeds go to Restore International's Leadership Academy in Gulu, Uganda and the Mentoring Project. Go buy the book, read it, and then do something.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers 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.”

Spiritual Rhythms in Community

Originally published on Englewood Review of Books.

A Review of: Spiritual Rhythms in Community: Being Together in the Presence of God 
Keith Meyer

As a drummer, I understand the importance of a good steady rhythm in music. It isn’t very hard to see how the metaphor can carry over into life. Just as a steady rhythm holds together songs, so a steady rhythm in life can keep us on the right track. Keith Meyer uses dancing to describe life rhythms. In the book’s introduction, he describes spiritual disciplines as similar to dancing, both are a “series of engaging and disengaging rhythms” (13). First we disengage from normal life activities in order to be with God for rest and renewal, and then we engage with life in order to live so that we can love God and others. Meyer suggests that, “we learn to take spiritual disciplines as our means or steps in a Trinitarian two-step dance of disengagement and engagement in order to live as God meant us to live” (14).

Within this two-step dance, there is a three-part rhythm. Meyer, using Jesus as an example, shows how this dance of engagement and disengagement forms a rhythm of formation, community, and mission. Jesus would spend time in prayer, then be in community with his disciples, and then was on mission teaching the crowds. Our practice of the disciplines should also lead to formative time with God, community time with Christians, and time spent living out the mission of God. This rhythm is cultivated by the two-step dance of engagement and disengagement, and Meyer uses these dance steps to structure the rest of the book.

The first part of the book focuses on disengaging. Meyer defines disengaging as disconnecting “from all that keeps us from a life with God and others in order to hear God’s call to become apprentices” (21). The main goal of disengaging, as Meyer describes in chapter 1, is to be alone in order to be with the Father. Jesus, the primary example in each chapter, even though he is one with the Father, was intentional about spending time alone in order to be with his Father. We, too, need to be intentional about disconnecting from the world so that there is nothing to prevent us from being with our heavenly father. The rest of the book’s first part is dedicated to ways of disengaging from the world in order to be with God. Meyer encourages readers to create retreat centers in their hearts, find deserts and other sacred spaces to meet with God, and to go off-line. All of these are ways of getting away and getting with God. Meyer is we have to have a space, in our hearts, in our lives, or somewhere in this world, where it is just God and us. The world does a good job of keeping us busy and distracted and often times we need a getaway in order to have rest and quiet. When we find those places, Meyer challenges us to do nothing besides be in God’s presence and to be silent before God. It may seem weird to some, and difficult to most, but doing nothing and remaining silent are ways for us open ourselves to what God wants us to see, hear, and do. After we encounter God, we must reenter the world and engage it with God.

The second half of the book focuses on engaging. Meyer broadens the focus of his writing to now look at all of life and how to engage the world as a Christian. He opens the second part by discussing friendship. Part of reengaging with the world is building Godly friendships that allow us to encourage one another and sharpen each other. Meyer believes that friendship is important to spiritual formation, but “we don’t often see friendship…as a discipline to cultivate” (112). Meyer also encourages readers to see the rhythms of daily life as “opportunities to fill our lives with God’s presence” (130). The times when we eat, clean, wake, or go to sleep are all times when we can acknowledge God’s presence and build him into our daily lives. In this second part, Meyer also discusses the importance of forgiveness and service. We need to repair broken relationships by asking for forgiveness. Meyer also stresses the importance of engaging the poor, and not just to serve them but to spend time with them and get to know them. Meyer’s final two chapters are good reminders about the Christian life. First, God works through our weaknesses. Meyer reminds us that God uses us, “as cracked clay jars that show off the glory of Christ through flaws and weaknesses” (164). Then, he wraps up the book by encouraging readers to look to those who have gone before. We are not the first to follow God and we should look to those who have gone before as guides for the journey that lies before us.

Keith Meyer has done an incredible job in describing to sides of spiritual formation that rarely get put together. Often people write about the importance of either disengaging from the world or engaging the world. Meyer, however, has done both. He also has done it in a way that challenges Christians to get out and do something about what they read. Meyer has written this book as a group devotional. Each chapter is preceded with a Psalm reflection and is followed by an application for a group to go and do. He has done this so that the book would help to create a rhythm of formation, community, and mission.  Spiritual Rhythms in Community is a challenging read and help to cultivate growth. This book is not intended to be read alone. Although it could be read that way, it will lose much of its value.

The only real weakness of the book is the second half. The first half of the book is easily connected and united around disengaging from the world and connecting with God. This theme is easily understood. The second half, however, since it is discussing engaging the world has more ground to cover. Because of this, each chapter seems at times to stand by itself instead of with the rest of the chapters in the second part. This is understandable, though, each chapter is meant to be read and then followed by the activity at the end of the chapter. Some may find the second half somewhat disconnected, but I believe that Meyer is doing his best to reach into many areas of life.

I would recommend Spiritual Rhythms in Community for any small group trying to stretch themselves. Meyer’s book is encouraging and challenging. The chapters are short and easily engaged.  If you really do commit to follow through on each application, I think that this book will be a great aid in your group’s spiritual and relational health.