Books Read: 2013

Part 8 of the posts regarding books that I have read lately. Part 1: books read in 2009, Part 2: books read in January - June of 2010, Part 3: books read in July - December of 2010, Part 4: books read in January - June of 2011, Part 5: books read in July - December of 2011, Part 6: books read in January - June of 2012, and Part 7: books read in July - December of 2012.

Unfortunately this year was not a year for reading for me. I hope to remedy that in 2014.

• Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll *
• Jesus Is _____. by Judah Smith *
• On the Grace of God by Justin Holcomb
• Let Hope In by Pete Wilson *

What are you reading? Leave me a comment with your recommendations!

Special thanks to BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson for providing some of these books to read and review (marked by a *).

Struggling in a new season...

For two and a half weeks I've been staring at this page trying to figure out how to write about what is going on. I've got a great group of friends here in California that have been walking with me through this journey, but I feel like I need to get the word out there to a broader audience and friends that I don't have daily contact with.

Two and a half weeks ago I returned from a trip to Ohio and Michigan to spend a little over a week with my family at my grandpa's cottage. It was such a great trip. Nice and relaxing and always great to spend time with family. Yet when I returned to California I was returning to a new season in life without a job or a permanent place to live. And these past two weeks have been very overwhelming. I'm struggling with the decisions that need to be made. I'm fighting so many questions and emotions that I don't know what direction to take and I feel completely lost. I don't know what to do.

I need prayer, guidance, insight, help, etc.

I'm fighting two different options. One, stay in California where I've got a great group of friends and an awesome church, but would mean looking for anything as a job. Two, look for a music ministry position which would definitely mean not at my current church and most likely somewhere completely different geographically. And here's what I'm fighting with those options. I don't want just any job. I want to find something I'll enjoy doing and I long to finally find something I can make a career of. That something still feels like music ministry to me. However, a part of me is afraid to start looking in that direction because of the potential "no" I will hear because I'm now divorced.

Just a little of where my head and heart are lately. I know God has everything under control, but I'm having a hard time believing it and living like it's true. I feel like such a mess right now and a little like I've been left behind and forgotten in the world.

Beyond Ordinary by Justin & Trisha Davis

"This is not an ordinary marriage book." What Justin and Trisha Davis have given us in their book Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn't Good Enough is a book that is anything but ordinary; it is extraordinary. Having said that though, I thought words about this book would just flow out onto this page. However, that hasn't been the case. At the time that I received this book and started reading it, I was going through a divorce. Why read a book on marriage then? I want to learn and grow even in the midst of my current circumstance. Though it was hard to read, I wanted to read it. God has been teaching me a lot lately and He's used Justin and Trisha's story to continue to teach me. The Davis' openly and honestly invite us into their story and that's what makes this an amazing book. They call this book a "he said, she said memoir." As you read each chapter you will hear from Justin, then you will hear from Trisha, and then they will both come together and share insights on what they learned and what we can learn from them. They are open, honest, and candid about what they went through. Hearing from both Justin and Trisha gives you a complete picture of what was happening, what was said, what was not said, and how the other person was interpreting it. I wish I could say that after reading this book my marriage was saved, but I can't. What I can say is that through my own situation and struggle and by reading books like this one, God is changing me. This book and the Davis' story is just as much about God changing the person as it is about changing a marriage. They write this early on in the book, "God doesn't want to improve your marriage; he wants to transform it. God doesn't want to modify your behavior; he wants to change your heart. Extraordinary comes when you, as a husband or wife, invite God to change you." I would highly recommend that everyone, whether single, dating, engaged, or married read this book, and especially those involved in ministry. Yes this is a marriage book, but there is something in this book for everyone as we all deal with relationships on some level.

     "Ordinary is the biggest enemy of a great marriage. Ordinary is characterized by dissatisfaction, misunderstanding, and stale love. Ordinary is the birthplace of adultery. Ordinary is a place where divorce looks better than staying together. Ordinary is the subtle trap that convinces you that your marriage is as good as it will ever get. Ordinary marriages lose hope. Ordinary marriages lose vision. Ordinary marriages give in to compromise.
     The way to an ordinary marriage is the path of least resistance. If you want an extraordinary marriage, you will have to choose it.
     This book is a weapon designed to wage war against ordinary. It isn't about communicating better or learning what planet your spouse is from or what love language he or she speaks. Instead, this book is a transparent look into the lives of two people who have journeyed from extraordinary to ordinary to nightmarish—and back again, by God's grace. This is a book about the heart: our hearts, your heart, and the heart of every marriage."

Special thanks to Tyndale for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com. Be sure to check out the Davis' ministry RefineUs. And visit http://www.beyondordinarybook.com for more information about this book.

Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll

"Who are you? What defines you? What is your identity? How you answer those questions affects every aspect of your life: personal, public, and spiritual. So it's vital to get the answer right." Mark Driscoll's latest book Who Do You Think You Are?: Finding Your True Identity in Christ, guides readers to answer those very questions. When I first heard about this book, I knew it was going to be a book I couldn't wait to read. The topic of identity is something I struggled with, and if I'm honest, still struggle with. A friend and mentor spent a lot of time with me in this area. I believe in this day and age identity crisis is more rampant than ever. The message is out there is that our identity and worth lies in what we do, our status in the world, how much stuff we have, what kind of car we drive, how big of a house we have, etc. Driscoll writes this, "We're continually forgetting who we are in Christ and filling that void by placing our identity in pretty much anything else." He continues by writing, "This world's fundamental problem is that we don't understand who we truly are—children of God made in his image—and instead define ourselves by any number of things other than Jesus." I found myself basing my worth in what I did; the job I had, as well as the job I wanted but wasn't getting. Driscoll uses the message in the book of Ephesians as the base text for this book. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of who we are when we look to Jesus as our identity; I Am in Christ, I Am a Saint, I Am Blessed, I Am Appreciated, I Am Saved, I Am Reconciled, I Am Afflicted, I Am Heard, I Am Gifted, I Am New, I Am Forgiven, I Am Adopted, I Am Loved, I Am Rewarded, I Am Victorious.

"As Christians, we live from our identity, not for our identity. We are defined by who we are in Christ, not what we do or fail to do for Christ. Christ defines who we are by who he is and what he's done for us, in us, and through us.

Knowing Jesus and being saved by him in faith is the key to your identity and the defeat of your idolatry. It's not about you. It's all about Jesus."

What a great reminder! IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!

Currently, Mark Driscoll's church, Mars Hill, is doing a sermon series based off the book; Ephesians: Who Do You Think You Are?. You can check those out here.


Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Rend Collective Experiment | Campfire

"Imagine intimate worship around the glow of embers and friendship. Imagine church as a shared celebration of our stories, struggles and lives. And imagine mission as the ignition of God's people as they huddle closely around 'The Consuming Fire.' With Campfire, a 12-track collection recorded live on a beach in Northern Ireland, Rend Collective Experiment dare us to re-imagine worship and community." I wish that I could have been on the beach to experience this recording. Having listened to this album the last two weeks, there is something so unique, fresh, and special in the music. Even being on the other side of the Atlantic ocean with time having passed since this moment was recorded, the spirit of worship that encompasses this recording can't help but be felt and in turn draws you into worship as if you were on the beach around that very same campfire. The songs on this project will be familiar if you've listened to Rend Collective Experiment's previous two albums, Organic Family Hymnal and Homemade Worship by Handmade People. You will however notice new instrumentation as well as new arrangements. One new song they add to this album is a version of Matt Redman's song "10,000 Reasons." This album comes across as pure worship through music. It's not about the performance or production; no fancy lights, no smoke, no loud sound system. It is the church, the body of Christ, coming together to lift up praises to God through music.

"The album is entirely driven by classic, retro folk instruments that could be played by the fireside and by the ocean. The result is an album that captures the raw, rootsy, foot-stomping energy of the Irish worshippers, which has been infectious among audiences across the globe, as well as the vulnerability and intimacy of home group worship."

Special thanks to Integrity Music for providing this complimentary pre-release album to listen to and review. You can download the album here on iTunes.

Books Read: July - December 2012

Part 7 of the posts regarding books that I have read lately. Part 1: books read in 2009, Part 2: books read in January - June of 2010, Part 3: books read in July - December of 2010, Part 4: books read in January - June of 2011, Part 5: books read in July - December of 2011, and Part 6: books read in January - June of 2012.

• Discovering the Mind of a Woman by Ken Nair
• No Ordinary Marriage by Tim Savage *
• Unleash! by Perry Noble
• Captured by Grace by David Jeremiah
• Note to Self by Joe Thorn
• Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian
• Torn by Jud Wilhite (re-read)
• Grace by Max Lucado *
• Mistakes Leaders Make by Dave Kraft *
• Redemption by Mike Wilkerson
• Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard (re-read)
• Every Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker
• Grace Transforming by Phil Ryken *
• Beyond Ordinary by Justin & Trisha Davis *

What are you reading? Leave me a comment with your recommendations!

Special thanks to BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, and Crossway for providing some of these books to read and review (marked by a *).

Grace Transforming by Phil Ryken

Grace Transforming by Phil Ryken began as a series of messages from chapel at Wheaton College where he is the president. Throughout this book Ryken looks at eight different aspects of God's life-changing grace; 1) Grace's Humbling Necessity, 2) Grace's Costly Provision, 3) Grace's Justifying Righteousness, 4) Grace's Sanctifying Power, 5) Grace's Clarifying Perspective, 6) Grace's Perpetual Abundance, 7) Grace's Precious Testimony, and 8) Grace's Endless Kindness. This isn't a long book, it's easy to read, but at the same time it's challenging. It is also a refreshing book to read as you reflect on how the grace of God has already changed you. As I continue to read books on the grace of God I am continually blown away at how much God loves us to freely offer us something we truly don't deserve. The subject of grace and my identity has been a subject heavily on my mind this year and throughout this book Ryken clearly links the two together. He writes this at the very beginning of the book; "Instead of being defined by who we are and what we do, we are defined by who Jesus is and what he has done for us in his death and resurrection." I don't think there is any way to ever exhaust the subject of God's grace, but through books like Ryken's we are challenged to never forget it. "Grace is not something we leave behind once we decide to follow Jesus. Grace is our present need as well as our past experience." "We never outgrow our need for God's life-changing grace―the gospel of the cross and the empty tomb." "Grace is not just the way into the Christian life; it is also the way on in the Christian life. So as we seek to live in a way that is pleasing to God, we never stop needing his mercy."

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Grace by Max Lucado

"God answers the mess of life with one word: grace." In Max Lucado's latest book Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, Max tackles this truly amazing subject. As you read through the pages of this book, Lucado challenges our understanding of grace. Instead of just asking if we believe in grace, we're challenged to ask deeper questions: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? Grace encompasses the Christian life. We can't do anything to earn it and we certainly don't deserve it, yet we have a gracious, loving God who freely offers it to us. Grace is so much more than saying a prayer and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is also something that sustains us each day we live. Lucado puts it this way, "Saving grace saves us from our sins. Sustaining grace meets us at our point of need and equips us with courage, wisdom, and strength." Because of his grace, we can come to Him as His children and He will always love us. Because of His grace you no longer have to fear things in this life. We can rest in Him and know that He will look out for us. We come to God because of his grace and because of how amazing and life-transforming it is, the next step is to share that grace with others. Lucado shares with us the of love of God for His children and the free gift of grace He offers for everyone. I don't claim to understand everything when it comes to grace and even after reading this book I still don't. At the beginning of one of the chapters Lucado quotes Anne Lamott who says, "I do not at all understand the mystery of grace--only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." That is true for me and anyone else that has accepted His grace and can be for you too if you would accept His grace.

"God's grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewrites you. From insecure to God secure. From regret-riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid-to-die to ready-to-fly." Max Lucado

Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Mistakes Leaders Make by Dave Kraft

Dave Kraft is back with his second book Mistakes Leaders Make. I had the privilege of reading his first book, Leaders Who Last, back in 2010. One of the endorsements on the front of the books says, "Should be required reading for every ministry leader." That is certainly true regarding this book. I wish I had this book a few years ago, but I'm very glad that I have it now. It's a book that I'm sure will be read through many more times. As I was reading through this book and thinking back through my time in ministry, I could see parts of myself and things I did in every section. Pastor Mark Driscoll writes this in the forward of the book, "As a leader, knowing what not to do is often just as important as knowing what to do." Myself and I'm sure many others have made the mistakes that Kraft talks about in this book, but we can take the wisdom and insight from others and make better choices in the future and avoid mistakes. Kraft tackles ten mistakes in this book;

1) Allowing Ministry to Replace Jesus
2) Allowing Comparing to Replace Contentment
3) Allowing Pride to Replace Humility
4) Allowing Pleasing People to Replace Pleasing God
5) Allowing Busyness to Replace Visioning
6) Allowing Financial Frugality to Replace Fearless Faith
7) Allowing Artificial Harmony to Replace Difficult Conflict
8) Allowing Perennially Hurting People to Replace Potential Hungry Leaders
9) Allowing Information to Replace Transformation
10) Allowing Control to Replace Trust

Kraft shares that he had formulated many other mistakes in preparing to write this book. I hope he writes a part 2 as I know there's much more that I could learn. I'm very thankful for this book as I know it will help me and I hope many others going forward.

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Unleash! by Perry Noble

This is a must-read for those that don't know Jesus and those that do. Perry Noble is a true pastor and cares about the heart and lives of everyone. We can live a full, unleashed life through Jesus and Perry points us there through the gospel. If you've ever heard Perry speak, this book is written like he speaks. It makes for an easy read, but don't take that to mean that it doesn't have content. This book is full of truth and Perry throws in some of his humor as well. Get this book and read it ASAP!

Special thanks to NewSpring Church and the Unleash! Book Launch Team for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Surfing for God by Michael John Cusick

The message that counselor and ministry leader Michael John Cusick shares in Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle is one that every man needs to hear. With 70% of Christian men reported to have viewed porn in the last year, chances are there is someone you know that is affected by this. Cusick quotes G.K. Chesterton on the back cover, "Every man who knocks on the door of a brothel is looking for God." That quote and the subtitle of the book lead to the next question that is asked, "What if a lust for porn is really a search for true passion?" Throughout the pages of this book Cusick opens up and shares his own story and experience with sexual struggles. He brings a message that exposes why this is such a struggle for so many. He goes through what many men believe porn will "promise" them and the lies men believe because of it. Cusick counters all of this with biblical truth and an explanation of what our brain goes through as exposure to porn and other sexual sins continue. Where this book excels is that Cusick doesn't just leave readers with stories and explanations. This book is saturated with the Gospel. He shares that there is a way to freedom from sexual sin. A relationship with Jesus is that way. Cusick helps men understand their triggers and the cycle they get caught up in. Jesus and His grace gives us assurance that we are not identified by our sin; our identity is found in Christ. Overcoming and becoming free from sexual sin is replacing our wants and desires for personal pleasures of the world for a desire to live giving glory to God. Our heart is always desiring something; we just need to know that what it desires is God. Through Christ men can be free from the chains of sexual sin.

Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

No Ordinary Marriage by Tim Savage

Books that I've requested to read and review are becoming harder to review right now. Not because I didn't like the book or think it doesn't have anything to offer, but because I'm taking my time going through it, trying to consume as much as I can and because this book has a lot to offer. Also, right now these books are more for my own personal growth. It's not that I don't want to share the message of the book with others, it's just that I'm trying so much to process its message for me, that I don't know how to put it into words for others. Even though so much of the content I'm still working through and putting into practice, I can honestly recommend that everyone read this book, No Ordinary Marriage: Together for God's Glory by Tim Savage. Whether you're married and things are great, married and things aren't so great, engaged, or single, there is something in here for everyone. Marriage is the subject of this book, the glory of God is the result. Jesus, the cross, our identity found in him personally and together as a couple is how we get there. I'll leave you with this message from the author from the pages of this book and will ask you to prayerfully consider getting and reading this book.

"Marriage is not ultimately something we do but something we are. It is not primarily the performance of a list of duties or roles. It cannot be reduced to a series of steps or procedures. That is why this book did not begin with the how-tos of marriage. Instead, marriage is something we are to the glory of One who is more resplendent than the sun. We are created in his image. We are made in his likeness. In marriage, we are an illustration of what the Lord is himself, a radiant beacon of self-giving love. We glorify God by being what we are in Christ, people who present a replica of the sacrificial service adorning the crucified Lord. With eyes fixed on Christ, we can model his love and draw on his strength and push on to the marital summit with thanksgiving in our hearts and rejoicing on our lips, all to the glory of God. The trail features Jesus Christ at every turn. It runs through Christ, is negotiated in Christ, and is capped with Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the key to God-glorifying marriage."

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Books Read: January - June 2012

Part 6 of the posts regarding books that I have read lately. Part 1: books read in 2009, Part 2: books read in January - June of 2010, Part 3: books read in July - December of 2010, Part 4: books read in January - June of 2011, and Part 5: books read in July - December of 2011.

• Real Marriage by Mark & Grace Driscoll *
• Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
• Disciple by Bill Clem
• Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson
• The Final Call by Kerry Fraser
• The Gospel As Center by D.A. Carson & Timothy Keller *
• Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard *
• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy & Kathy Keller
• The Five Love Languages: Men's Edition by Gary Chapman
• Kingdom Man by Tony Evans *
• Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson *
• 1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell *
• Every Man, God's Man by Stephen Arterburn
• The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler *
• Empty Promises by Pete Wilson *
• What's Your Secret? by Aaron Stern
• Secondhand Jesus by Glenn Packiam
• Surfing for God by Michael John Cusick *

What are you reading? Leave me a comment with your recommendations!

Special thanks to BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson, Blogging for Books/WaterBrook Multnomah, Tyndale, and Crossway for providing some of these books to read and review (marked by a *).

Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

After reading Pete Wilson's first book, Plan B (review here), two years ago, I was excited to hear about his brand new book, Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing. On the back cover Pete writes this, "We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved." Pete brings up a topic that is very real and relevant right now and that is dealing with idolatry. The truth is, it's been an issue for a very long time as the Israelites struggled with it when Moses was up on the mountain with God getting the 10 commandments. For the purpose of this book, Pete defines idolatry like this: "Idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give." We all have a longing and a yearning for something that God put into our DNA when he created us. We are a people that are created to worship. As Pete writes, "The question isn't 'Do we worship?' The question is 'Who (or what) do we worship?'" Pete presents and talks through various different idols we get caught up in. He is truly a pastor in that he wants to shepherd those that pick up this book. He is open and candid in his own struggles. I really appreciate that as it helps me to connect to what I'm reading. It causes me to open up and look into my own life. Towards the beginning of each chapter, Pete will have questions for us to ask ourselves to begin to explore whether these issues are a problem or not. I can say that I struggle more than I would have admitted prior to reading this book. I've read other books along the same lines as this one, but I feel that Pete does a great job helping us to not only understand these idols, but how to fight them and get out from underneath them. The last three chapters of this book are critical to our understanding of how to beat our idols. The biggest thing is that we've replaced God with other things and those other things will never satisfy in the way that only God can. We need to stay connected to the Truth. I finish with a quote from Pete Wilson,

"Simply identifying our idols and wanting to replace them probably won't lead to any kind of personal transformation. What we really need is a way to experience God daily so we can continually break through the self-deception and realize just how lifeless and empty our idols are."

We are who or what we worship, and worshiping anyone or anything other than God will leave us empty. We must be on guard regarding these empty promises that will never be carried out, are worthless, and meaningless. As it's written on the back of the cover, we must discover the joy and freedom that comes with seeking after God with your whole life. Learn how to replace, and not just relinquish, life's empty promises by turning your focus and worship toward Him. It is the only thing that will set you absolutely free from the endless pursuit of everything else.



Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard

Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard, I believe, is going to be one of those books that revolutionize men and their marriages and I'm praying that would be the case for mine. Justin writes this in the beginning of the book, "Marriages can be jumpstarted; the sacred union between a husband and a wife can receive new life and power. Everything can be made new. It's harder and easier than you think. Men, it starts with you. You and I and the men we know want something more. What you really want is a marriage that feels like a mission, a marriage that's moving forward toward something exciting, mysterious, and grand―kind of like the way dating felt." Justin asks for us to think back to our first date; "What was your first date with your wife like? Where were you? What did you do? What did you talk about? What did you learn? What were you feeling? What was she wearing? How did your date happen in the first place?" He then goes on to say, "What's your story? My assumption is that all of our first date stories have one thing in common: we acted like men. We pursued our wives-to-be. We made the move. We initiated. We took a risk. We took the lead." For some reason, we as men and husbands have seemed to forget about all that as soon as we say "I do." We viewed getting married as the mission and once we said "I do." it was as if we had arrived and didn't need to worry about all the stuff we did while we were dating. However, as quoted earlier we want a marriage that feels like a mission. I soon as we get married, the mission hasn't ended, it's really just begun. Justin reminds us that we as husbands need to date our wives.

He breaks the book up into four parts; the good, the bad, the new, and the perfect. Marriage is good. God created for two people to share. Justin shares that the first time a man looked at a woman, Adam and Eve, marriage happened. Adam and Eve didn't invent marriage, God did. Then there's some bad news for husbands out there; we are the problem with our marriage. We have failed at the job gave us through Adam, to cultivate and guard our wife. We begin to have a religious mindset in our marriage, that it's all about our performance and that will be good enough. And we failed to keep on pursuing our wife. We did so well at it while we were dating, but we believe that the mission ended when we got married. That's the bad news. However there is good news. Justin says that "If you want to change a marriage, change the man." Where marriages go wrong is with the husband; that's the bad news. However, where marriages go right is also with the husband; that's the good news. The difference is instead of trying to do everything in our own power, we draw our power from God. We are given a responsibility, but we have to have the right power source to carry it out. Justin uses this quote from another guy, "Responsibility: My response to His ability." It's a lot to do with identity. We as men are always trying to find ways to measure our success, but becoming new is because of our response to the gospel. We now can rest in the fact the true measure of a man is from God says about him. It boils down to an idolatry problem, but we can now beat that by focusing on the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Through the power of the gospel and the grace of Jesus Christ we can have a new future. The last chapter brings everything full circle and links us back to the job God gave Adam in the garden and that is to cultivate our wife, to help her flourish in her relationship with Christ. Justin calls us to look at the end, "until death do us part," when she will become truly perfect, her future glory-self. Justin writes this about the structure of the book,

"This book has followed a four-fold structure: the good, the bad, the new, and the perfect. This is the four-fold storyline of the Bible and of our marriages. Things start out good. Relationships are in tact, secure, and exciting. Then things go bad. We sin, we screw up, we hurt, and we get hurt. We cry out for help. Then God hears, and God shows up. Grace happens. Jesus comes to us, forgives us, and makes things new. And, eventually, everything becomes perfect."

Another part of this book I really appreciate is that Justin's wife, Taylor, writes a small section at the end of the book specifically for wives. This is a book that I think every husband and engaged man needs to read.



Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler

The gospel is central to what we believe as Christians and recently there have been a lot of books published related to this topic of the gospel or gospel-centered __________. You wouldn't think that these books would be necessary, but I believe they are because at least for me after reading The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler, I realize that I still have a long way to go to really understanding what the gospel is and how to communicate it. Before I get to far into this, if you're like me, I had to look up the word explicit as I wanted to get an accurate definition of that word; 1) fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied, 2) clearly developed or formulated, 3) described or shown in realistic detail. It's amazing to me how adding one specifically selected adjective can completely enhance the understanding of the word it's describing. Chandler writes this about the book,

"Even if you go to church, it doesn't mean that you are being exposed (or exposing others) to the gospel explicitly. Sure, most people talk about Jesus, and about being good and avoiding bad, but the gospel message simply isn't there―at least not in its specificity and its fullness."

That was, and is, me. I grew up in the church all my life, but I know I had this idea that I had to do all these things to earn God's love. It's so easy to get caught up in the dos and don'ts, that we so easily forget that the cross says, "Done!" As Chandler expresses in this book, the gospel is more than the message of Christ dying for our sins and being raised from the dead so that we can be saved and set free from sin and death, but that it's also God's message of the restoration of all things from creation till He comes back again. Chandler uses two metaphors for this throughout the book, 1) the gospel on the ground, which focuses on the power of grace in our personal lives, and 2) the gospel in the air, which is a "tour de force story of creation, fall, reconciliation, consummation―a grand display display of God's glory in his overarching purposes of subjecting all things to the supremacy of Christ." Chandler stresses that we need a balance of both of these views to completely understand the gospel. He finishes the book by giving us warnings and things to watch out for should we focus on one or the other of these positions too much, dealing with moralism (the idea that we are able to earn favor with God and justify ourselves before God by virtue of our behavior), and the message of the cross. This is one of those books that will not stay of the shelf, but one that will be read again and again as I continue to learn and grow in the gospel. I would encourage everyone to read this book. I end with this that Chandler wrote,

"Here is a call to true Christianity, to know the gospel explicitly, and to unite the church on the amazing grounds of the good news of Jesus!"

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell

1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ by Jonathan Falwell gives us a concise look at Jesus' three years, roughly 1000 days, of public ministry. He brings the accounts and stories of the four Gospels into one book. Falwell's pastoral nature comes out in his writing as it's not just information, but he also adds application. This book comes across like it could be, and maybe it has been, a 15-week sermon series. As the book progresses through each chapter we encounter a different aspect of Christ's ministry. It's not a difficult book to read and it's not one that has some sort of new astounding idea. These are not bad things though. I think so often we get caught up in the new, out-of-the-box, creative ideas to share a message that we forget about the basic, stripped-down message. If you've been a Christian or in church for a while, most likely you've heard sermons on these same topics, but it's nice to have a collection of these messages all from the same person. I also love the heart of Falwell as he shares personal stories that illustrate points so well. I also appreciate how Falwell incorporates word studies throughout the book. He brings things back to the original Greek and gives us definitions. I was really captivated in the chapter about Christ's messages from the cross. So many time I've heard Christ's words, "It is finished." and know what the message is behind it, but seeing what the word finished means gives new meaning and depth to this message. Falwell writes that the word finished, tetelestai, means "a past completed action that has continual and enduring results." "It is finished" is a message that spans the test of time and still has the same power now that it did then. This book is one that shows us how Christ lived and then challenges us to live like He did. Early in the book we see how Jesus called His disciples, and I think it leaves us with the perfect question to ask ourselves, "Their [the 12 disciples'] response to Jesus' call was to forsake everything and follow Him. What will be your response?" What will your response be? What will my response be? As we gain more insight and understanding of how Christ lived during his three years of public ministry, will we follow Him and live like He did.

This book also contains a lot of study tools. At the end of each chapter there are questions to be used for personal reflection or small group discussion. Falwell also includes a Bible study guide at the end of the book.

Special thanks to Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson

I'm so thankful for Crossway and the Re:Lit label and the books they continue to publish. They continue to publish books that are so focused on the gospel and how to live the Christian life. Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson was a fantastic book to read. I was very interested in reading this book, but it also caught me off guard in a good way. The topic of discipleship truly is gospel centered. It's so Gospel centered that if you truly understand and live out the Gospel, discipleship will follow. It really begins and ends with the Gospel. Dodson writes this in the introduction to the book, "Gospel-centered discipleship is not about how we perform but who we are―imperfect people, clinging to a perfect Christ, being perfected by the Spirit." I think we to often get in the mindset that the gospel is only meant to save people, but as Dodson points out in his book that yes, it is meant for salvation, but it is also meant for sanctification. The gospel is meant for disciples as well as sinners. I think about Jesus' twelve disciples and he didn't just call them, but he also built into them; he taught them, he shared the message with them, and he gave them the tools to go out, share, and teach others. Through our faith in Christ because of the gospel message and with the power of the Holy Spirit we have all the tools we need to build into others. It's remembering the power of the gospel. Dodson also writes this in his book, "Disciples are gospel people who introduce and reintroduce themselves and others to the person and power of Jesus over and over again. A disciple of Jesus never stops learning the gospel, relating in the gospel and communicating the gospel." I love the idea that he gives through the aspect of Fight Clubs. A fight club is a small group of men or women who get together to fight the desires of the flesh and believe the gospel of grace. They are incredibly relational and by keeping the gospel as the central message can be huge in the development of disciples of Jesus. I would highly recommend that every follower of Christ read this book. Not only will it enhance your understanding of the gospel, but also how to use the gospel to build into others. It's definitely a good book to read by yourself, but I also think it would be very beneficial to read with others and begin the process of discipleship right away.

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

Kingdom Man by Tony Evans

This book, Kingdom Man: Every Man's Destiny, Every Woman's Dream by Tony Evans, couldn't have come at a more appropriate time in my life. Tony Evans writes this, "A cursory glance around our homes, churches, communities, and globe reveals that men--not all, but many--have missed the goal to live as a Kingdom Man." I have come to realize how much I've fallen short of what it means to be a Kingdom man. Evans defines a Kingdom man as "a man who positions himself and operates according to the comprehensive rule of God over every area of his life." For so long I have tried operate under my own power and it has severely affected a lot of my life. God created man and as a man, I am responsible. By God's grace and Tony Evans' faithfulness to call men to be Kingdom men, He is doing a work in me. I have heard God's call in my life to become a Kingdom man through the words written by Tony Evans. This book has the power to change mens lives as long as they will read it with an open mind and heart and a willingness to let God show areas where the reader can change and grow. It certainly has for me. There is so much pressure coming from the world and in how they define a man, but as Evans writes, "When you choose to seek God and His ways, you no longer have to be held hostage to the definitions of this world." I would highly encourage every man to read this book and be vulnerable enough to open your heart and let God come in and show you where you have fallen short. I also believe it would be helpful for women to read this book as well, especially those that are married, so that they can help encourage their husbands to become the man, Kingdom man, that God has for them.

"A kingdom man models himself after the greatest Kingdom Man of all."

Special thanks to Tyndale for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.

The Gospel as Center by D.A. Carson & Timothy Keller

Crossway and The Gospel Coalition have published a fantastic resource in The Gospel as Center: Renewing Our Faith and Reforming Our Ministry Practices edited by D.A. Carson and Timothy Keller. Via the TGC's website, "The Gospel Coalition is an evangelical movement dedicated to the gospel of Christ and a Scripture-based reformation of ministry practices." This book is a one volume compilation of their booklets that unpack their confessional statement. What I appreciate about this book is how much detail they put into the aspects of their confessional statement. I've seen a lot of statements and while they're necessary and I realize that all of them can't be the length of a book, it's nice to have a resource where these aspects are explained. The greatest aspect is that each part is gospel-centered. As Christians and local church bodies I think it's important that we seek to make everything we do gospel-centered. I'm thankful for an organization that seeks to make the gospel the center of their ministry and for providing material that focuses on Jesus in areas of ministry.

Special thanks to Crossway for providing this complimentary book to read and review. You can purchase the book here on amazon.com.