Letters to the Church

If God had it His way, what would your church look like?

The New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Love challenges readers to be the Church as God intends.
 

• Do you want more from your church experience?
• Does the pure gospel put you in a place of awe?
• Are you ready to rethink church as you know it? 

Sit with Pastor Francis Chan and be reminded that you are a part of something much bigger than yourself, something sacred.

In his most powerful book yet, Chan digs deep into biblical truth, reflects on his own failures and dreams, and shares stories of ordinary people God is using to change the world.

Chan says, “We’ve strayed so far from what God calls Church. We all know it. We know that what we’re experiencing is radically different from the Church in Scripture. For decades, church leaders like myself have lost sight of the inherent mystery of the Church. We have trained people sitting in the pews to become addicted to lesser things. It’s time for that to change.”

When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride—even more than for our own lives? Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was … and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be.

This was a quick read but took a lot of processing.  I grew up in church.  All I have ever known is the way the church is done in the southeastern US.  I would default say that is the proper way to do church.  In college, I did take a course that challenged us to evaluate the modern church in light of what we read in the New Testament.  Chan brought those questions back to mind and then some.

Writing his standard get to the point, challenging the default way, that Chan has done in other books, he lays out a strong thesis for a new paradigm for the church.  Actually, not new but a reformation of returning to the old.  He purposefully does not lay out a plan of change or structure.  He places a challenge to the western evangelical church to look at how we are doing things in light of the Scripture.

Why are we doing what we are doing?

Why are we doing things the way we are doing them?

Are we honoring God or ourselves?

Whose kingdom are we advancing?

I was deeply challenged by this book.  I highly recommend this book to any Christian that holds to sola scriptura.

Christians in the Age of Outrage

Are you tired of reading another news story about Christians supposedly acting at their worst?
Today there are too many examples of those claiming to follow Christ being caustic, divisive, and irrational, contributing to dismissals of the Christian faith as hypocritical, self-interested, and politically co-opted. What has happened in our society? One short outrageous video, whether it is true or not, can trigger an avalanche of comments on social media.

Welcome to the new age of outrage.
In this groundbreaking book featuring new survey research of evangelicals and their relationship to the age of outrage, Ed Stetzer offers a constructive way forward. You won’t want to miss Ed’s insightful analysis of our chaotic age, his commonsensical understanding of the cultural currents, and his compelling challenge to Christians to live in a refreshingly different way.

I believe this book should be required reading before any Christian walks out their front door or turns on their computer/smartphone/tablet/charier pidgeon.  Dr. Stetzer has written an engaging book on the Christians proper action and role in the culture that exists today.

The culture around us in the West has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.  This is now a post-Christian culture.  The sooner that is understood by Christians, the better their engagement with those that are not Christians will become.  Yelling.  Being purposefully offensive.  Taking offense at everything one disagrees with.  These are not actions of Christ.  Dr. Stetzer explains clearly to the reader the how and the way for loving engagement with all people.

There are no words to express how strongly I recommend this book.  Thank you, Dr. Stetzer!  Well done.
Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World Is at Its Worst by Ed Stetzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Dear Fahrenheit 451

If you love to read, and presumably you do since you’ve picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it’s clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.

In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler’s Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence’s take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature—sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.

A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book…and another, and another, and another!

I was at my local library for the first time since they had moved into a new building.  By the time I visited though, the building was no longer new.  I think the library had been in the building for about a year. (Don't judge me.)  My wife and daughter were going to be at an appointment for nearly an hour, and I had no desire to stay in a waiting room.  Library for an hour wins by a mile.

The library's front display had this book.  I rank Fahrenheit 451 as one of the greatest works of fiction of all time.  It should be required reading at all schools.  Fahrenheit 451 had such an impact on me that it continues to influence my thoughts on entertainment and censorship today over 35 years later.  When I read this book's title, I picked it up to check out with no concept about its subject.

Ms. Spence had me read her first book in short order.  I laughed at many of her letters and her relationships with books.  I understood entirely and enjoyed her personal reflections on these relationships.  Her relationship with JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit troubled me.  I wanted to argue with her and explain how she was wrong.  How could a man who gets TWO letters for his middle name not write great fiction?

I do have to admit to having developed somewhat of a crush on Ms. Spence in reading this book.  She likes books.  She's funny. She's cute.  Then I realized I didn't have a crush on Ms. Spence; I was projecting my feelings for my wife onto someone like her.  Sorry, Ms. Spence.  I have a beautiful wife.  I'm a dog person.  I like The Hobbit.  I don't think it would have worked out anyway. :)

Another Name for Every Thing

Richard Rohr, one of the world's most influential spiritual thinkers, delivers his long-awaited book on Jesus. In this radical message of hope, Rohr shows how "Jesus" + "Christ" reveals the divine wholeness at the heart of things--and what that means for every one of us.
In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped hundreds of thousands realize what is at stake in matters of faith--and it is not religion as usual. Yet Fr. Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus Christ. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus's last name? Too often, declares Rohr, our understandings have been held captive by culture, nationalism, and Christianity itself.
Drawing on history, theology, and psychology, Rohr articulates an exhilarating and ultimately more sensible view of Jesus Christ as a portrait, so to speak, of how God works. "The whole of creation is the beloved community--the child of God--not just Jesus," he writes. In a world where religion too often divides, Rohr's understanding of the Incarnation changes not just the significance of Christmas, but how we read history, relate to nature and each other, and find our highest purpose each day.
Fans of Rohr's earlier works will find here a synthesis that reveals the broadest, most hopeful vision for humanity imaginable. Newcomers will be drawn to a science-friendly spirituality that feels both modern and timeless. All will value Rohr's practical insights on mindfulness, prayer, and enlightened social action.

I started this book with high hopes.  The title was very engaging.  The introduction was wonderful.  The first chapter concerned me.  The second chapter was heretical in my opinion.  Fr. Rohr has excellent theological training.  I was shocked.  Christ is the tile of Jesus as the promised Messiah not a loosely understood concept.

No one but the only son of the Father is the incarnation of God.  Seeing the mark of the Creator in all people and creation is beautiful.  Saying all people are an incarnation of God is completely contradictory to Scripture.

I cannot recommend this book at all.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde’s only full-length novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was first published in 1890 and is the classic tale of the moral decline of its title character, Dorian Gray. While Dorian has his portrait painted by Basil Hallward he is lectured to by Lord Henry Wotton, who espouses a hedonistic worldview. Dorian is drawn to Wotton’s belief that beauty and sensuality are the only things in life worth pursuing and wishes that he would stay young while his portrait changes instead. In the years that follow Dorian pursues a life of vice and debauchery, committing unspeakable acts along the way. With the passage of time, Dorian’s wish comes true, as his age and withering moral character are reflected in his portrait instead of himself. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is arguably one of Wilde’s most popular works, which caused quite a scandal in Victorian England when it was first published, for its glorification of decadence. A chilling tale, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is at once both an intricate character study and a sharp criticism of the improprieties of the Victorian age.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very dark and philosophical. Wilde is so descriptive of the setting that you can become lost in it.

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This is quite a disturbing book.  I did not know what the book was about when I began reading it.  Wilde's description of Dorian Gray as observed by Basil is so sensual, I was sure that the book was going to be about some gay attraction in Victorian England.  As I read farther, I realized the centrality of Dorian Gray's physical perfection to the plot.

It was easy to become lost in the setting of the book.  Wilde painted clearly the context at every turn.  The color of each flower.  The sound of each particular insect.  The tint of the reflection off of windows given the hour of the day.  I do not believe I have ever read a book with such attention to detail.  This symbolism becomes evident only after reaching deep into the story.

Though Wilde's tale was written in Victorian England, his work could have been penned today by King or Koontz with the same characters.  We as a global society are so consumed with beauty that the worth of the soul (the person) has become secondary.  I encourage everyone to read this book and take an in-depth look inside themselves.  What counts?  Would you sacrifice your soul for physical perfection?

Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life

The #1 bestselling author of Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther explores miracles in an inspiring response to the “New Atheists” 

Not since C. S. Lewis in 1947 has an author of Eric Metaxas’s stature undertaken a major exploration of the phenomenon of miracles. In this groundbreaking work, Metaxas examines the compatibility between faith and science and provides well-documented anecdotal evidence of actual miracles. With compelling—sometimes electrifying—evidence that there is something real to be reckoned with, Metaxas offers a timely, civil, and thoughtful answer to recent books by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris. Already a New York Times bestseller, Miracles will be welcomed by both believers and skeptics—who will find their minds opening to the possibilities.

I do not generally read "Christian" books.  I find that they tend to be poorly written, especially the attempts at fiction, and trite.  This book was recommended, on Facebook by my pastor from college.  A man that I have a lot of respect for.  After investigating Metaxas some, my interest was peaked.  An author who has come to be known for his biographies of great people wrote a book on the subject of miracles?  He must have an exciting view.  I was not disappointed.

Metaxas covers the philosophy, theology, and metaphysics of miracles while also writing accounts from people who experienced miracles.  In writing about miracles, Metaxas provides his own reasonable definition.  This provides a good foundation for the rest of the subject.  Metaxas delivers an excellent metaphysical reason for why some may experience a miracle, and another does not.

I cannot recommend the book enough.  If you have any curiosity concerning miracles or what some may have claimed as miracles, this is a must-read.  If you believe that all who think miracles have occurred are kooks, this is the book for you.

Lost In Math

A contrarian argues that modern physicists' obsession with beauty has given us wonderful math but bad science 
Whether pondering black holes or predicting discoveries at CERN, physicists believe the best theories are beautiful, natural, and elegant, and this standard separates popular theories from disposable ones. This is why, Sabine Hossenfelder argues, we have not seen a major breakthrough in the foundations of physics for more than four decades. The belief in beauty has become so dogmatic that it now conflicts with scientific objectivity: observation has been unable to confirm mindboggling theories, like supersymmetry or grand unification, invented by physicists based on aesthetic criteria. Worse, these "too good to not be true" theories are actually untestable and they have left the field in a cul-de-sac. To escape, physicists must rethink their methods. Only by embracing reality as it is can science discover the truth.

I was intrigued by this book from the start.  Being a physics and math nerd, the author had me.  It was curious to me.  Her thesis is that science, particularly particle physics theory, has been led astray by a non-scientific pursuit of the aesthetic quality of theories "beauty."  It has been very common for me to hear and for me to say regarding some of the math of theories that have been proven that the math is beautiful.  Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism are beautiful.  Four "simple" equations that explain all of the electromagnetics is beautiful in my mind.  Have I been led astray by this principle of beauty?

Dr. Hossenfelder interviews numerous scientists in her field and outside her area to see if this approach has hijacked science from is experimental roots.  As an experimental physicist, I found the book very enjoyable and a little disturbing.  Have we been led astray?  Have we left the truth of scientific research for a group think pursuit of beauty?

The Tao of Physics

The mystics explore it through meditation.  The nuclear physicists explore it through experimentation and hypothesis.  It's the universe as we understand it today, a "cosmic dance" of paradoxical yet unified relationships -- an organic vision brilliantly evoked by a gifted and thoughtful physicist.

"Mystics understand the roots of the Tao but not its branches; scientists understand its branches but not its roots.  Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science; but man needs both." -- Fritjof Capra in The Tao of Physics

This is the first edition of this book from 1975, during the rush to New Age philosophy.  Capra spends the first portion of the book explaining to the layman quantum physics and relativity of modern physics without mathematics.  He then provides an overview of eastern religion/philosophy.  Given these two introductions, Capra moves forward on seek to correlate the two; very poorly I believe.

I was very disappointed in this book.  I should have gotten a philosophy text of eastern philosophy and made the connections myself being a physicist.  Leaving mathematics out of physics is like telling a story without words.  Though one might be able to correlate eastern mystical philosophy to some aspects of modern physics, it does not help the understanding of either nor reveal any new truth.

I felt like I had wasted my time reading this text.  I am very glad that this was given to me by someone who also spent nothing for the book.  If you want to know about modern physics, read any book by Hawking.  If you want to know about eastern philosophy, get an eastern philosophy book.

The Lamb's Supper

Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass as "Heaven on Earth," explaining that what "we celebrate on Earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy."

The Lamb’s Supper reveals a long-lost secret of the Church: The early Christians' key to understanding the mysteries of the Mass was the New Testament Book of Revelation. With its bizarre imagery, its mystic visions of heaven, and its end-of-time prophecies, Revelation mirrors the sacrifice and celebration of the Eucharist.

Beautifully written, in clear direct language, bestselling Catholic author Scott Hahn's new book will help readers see the Mass with new eyes, pray the liturgy with a renewed heart, and enter into the Mass more fully, enthusiastically, intelligently, and powerfully than ever before.

This book was loaned to me by a western rights friend.  (I refuse to use the term "Catholic" with an adjective given the word's meaning.)  Not being of the western rights liturgy, I was not of the intended audience of the book.  I was not familiar with the Mass liturgy, so there is likely great information that I did not gather any knowledge from.  I do think Dr. Hahn wrote an excellent text concerning and supporting his understanding of the Mass.  He did help me as a Protestant understand my differences with my western rights and Orthodox brothers and sisters.  I do not have strong theological arguments with them.  My differences are strictly philosophical.

My western and eastern rights brothers and sisters focus heavily on the importance of the history of church liturgy.  The Mass and its connection with the Revelation is a chicken and egg argument, i.e., did the early Church fathers pattern their new method of worship after the Revelation or does the Revelation reveal the meaning of the Mass?  Dr. Hahn does not discuss this conundrum.  He assumes the second by axiom.

Since this is my blog, you get my thoughts on this subject.  I believe that this new method of worship that the Lord said nothing about was patterned after what the early church fathers knew: Judisim.  As the Church has grown and taken on other cultural histories, worship today looks different across the earth.  Is that wrong?  I believe not.  If the pattern of worship was important to the Lord, I believe He would have spoken on it.  Dr. Hahn quotes extensively from the Revelation because that is the focus of his text.  I am certain of his knowledge of the Scripture, but there are two I will quote that I believe ends the argument.

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. 

Galatians 5:1

The Human Instinct

From the publisher: "A radical, optimistic exploration of how humans evolved to develop reason, consciousness, and free will.

Lately, the most passionate advocates of the theory of evolution seem to present it as bad news. Scientists such as Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, and Sam Harris tell us that our most intimate actions, thoughts, and values are mere byproducts of thousands of generations of mindless adaptation. We are just one species among multitudes, and therefore no more significant than any other living creature.

Now comes Brown University biologist Kenneth R. Miller to make the case that this view betrays a gross misunderstanding of evolution. Natural selection surely explains how our bodies and brains were shaped, but Miller argues that it’s not a social or cultural theory of everything. In The Human Instinct, he rejects the idea that our biological heritage means that human thought, action, and imagination are pre-determined, describing instead the trajectory that ultimately gave us reason, consciousness, and free will. A proper understanding of evolution, he says, reveals humankind in its glorious uniqueness—one foot planted firmly among all of the creatures we’ve evolved alongside, and the other in the special place of self-awareness and understanding that we alone occupy in the universe.

Equal parts natural science and philosophy, The Human Instinct is a moving and powerful celebration of what it means to be human."

I wished I had made notes while reading this book.  The book is well written in that it was a pleasant read.  I enjoyed it.  The book is not well written in that the writer makes numerous philosophical errors and uses logical fallacies.  He both rejects the "ghost in the machine" and defends the "ghost in the machine" by claiming the complexity of the neurological complexity of the brain creates the mind.  The human is either completely controlled by only chemical and physical processes (not allowing "free will"), or one must allow for the "ghost in the machine some way.  One can not both claim there is no "ghost" and free will.  The two arguments are mutually exclusive.

Given very recent publication, the text needs updating before publication.  Homo sapien jaw bone has been discovered in Israel predating other fossils outside of Africa.  Since the author writes extensively about this in a portion of the text; updating this section is important.

Spiritual Audacity

Description
You were born to be a humble and joyful child of God.

2,600 years ago, an explosion of philosophers in different parts of the world began spiritual disciplines that would reverberate through history and time. Through study and spiritual curiosity, mystic and theologian Rev. Dr. Jim Sherblom unearthed these disciplines in his journey from wealth and power to wisdom and purpose. With humor and grace, Sherblom elucidates the six principles: Resilience, Surrender, Gratitude, Generosity, Mystery, and Awakening.

Part memoir, part philosophical history, and part manual for living, Spiritual Audacity will guide you from black and white to color, from formless to form, from dark to light, and from curious to enlightened.

I believe this book should have been titled "The Baby-Boomer Guide to Spirituality".  Dr. Sherbom is an excellent writer, and his autobiographical portions of the text are very engaging.  His religious portions of the text almost made me chuckle.  Though he ran from his father's teachings (as many baby-boomers do) really just came full circle.  He found the same truths of his father's pulpit but had to travel thousands of miles and read numerous other religious texts.

Dr. Sherbom seems to be more happy with these truths because he found them somewhere other than his father's pulpit.  I do find it a little insulting that Dr. Sherbom appears to belittle rural upbringing as something substandard.  He also appears to claim some level of expertise of Christian theology.  His credentials for orthodox Christian theology are quite lacking.  I will give him that he has trained well in other religions and mysticism, but he has little education noted for orthodox Christianity.  From the autobiographical portion of the text, I believe this is due to his negative view of his father and thus what his father held to.  If Dr. Sherbom had taken time for a study of orthodox Christianity I could respect his thoughts more.

But, again I think this book is more of a Baby-Boomer guide.  Dr. Sherbom appears to be a character from the 1980's TV show "Thirty Something' in this book.  I believe there is a good book in this text if it was edited down to the amazing career that Dr. Sherbom has had in business.