The Voice Bible: A Review

My latest BookSneeze offering was The Voice Bible from Thomas Nelson.  After previously only releasing a New Testament version and one of the Psalms, the Ecclesia Bible Society has finally released a version of the whole scripture.  If you are unfamiliar with the translation of The Voice, it presents scripture in a narrative form like a play.  It is super easy to read and the translators add words and phrases to keep the story clear and moving along.  I have often used The Voice Bible in public readings and in personal study.  I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a new and fresh perspective on scripture.

Love Does: A Review

My latest selection from BookSneeze is "Love Does" by Bob Goff.  This book is a memoirs of sorts in how love has taken root and played itself out in the life of the author.  For Goff, the purpose of love in our life is to spring us to action, and in the pages of this book there is plenty of action.  From cross continent trips with his family to meet heads of state, trips to Uganda for the purpose of fighting childhood slavery and 10 year old adventures with his children are just a taste of the many ways in which love has manifested itself in Goff's life.  This book is essentially a collection of stories with a scriptural tie in at the end of each chapter.  But through reading this book I believe that Goff is more than just a good storyteller, he is a disciple of Christ and he is simply sharing what that looks like in his life.  The author is not simply sharing his stories for our amusement, but to help inspire what love might do in and through our lives.  Goff is trying to help ignite our imaginations to where the Spirit might lead those who are actually willing to go to the ends of the earth.  I would highly recommend this book.  Read it and be inspired to open up your life to what love will do in your life.

The Jesus We Missed: A Review

Let me first say that I received this book for free in exchange for a review from Booksneeze.  In this book the author seeks to paint a picture of the humanity of Jesus through the stories that are found in scripture.  Upon reading the title of this book I half expected to get a dense theological work on the historical Jesus, but instead this book is an easy to read and well written look at what scripture has to say about the humanity of Jesus.  I did not feel as if any of the information in the book was new, it seemed to be as if a magnifying glass was placed to certain aspects of the story of Jesus found in the gospels.  I do think that what is presented here does force the reader to look through the theological lens of what it means to say that Jesus was human, and in turn how that speaks to our own humanness.  I would recommend this book especially if it were read in a small or study group setting because it would seem to lend itself to good discussions.

I Am a Follower: A Review

My latest offering from the Booksneeze bloggers program is "I Am A Follower" by Leonard Sweet.  In this book Sweet is taking on the leadership culture that is dominating the culture of the church and asking if this is what the church is to be about.  As you might can guess from the title he is seeking to call us away from leadership models and into what he terms followership.  Instead of seeing ourselves as leaders he claims that we are to become first followers.  The reason being that much of the leadership culture that is present within the church can lead us away from following after our own whims instead of listening to the Spirit and following after Jesus.  After an opening section that makes the case for followership, the book is then broken up into three subsequent sections that take a deeper look at Jesus being the way, the truth and the life for those that follow after him.

I will have to admit that I loved this book.  As someone who has worked in the church for the past ten years and has been indoctrinated in the leadership culture, although with a great measure of discomfort, I am happy that someone is finally speaking up.  I only wish that this book had been written ten years ago to save me so much heartache and to help put some of my own thoughts into a more coherent form.  I felt that this book was a very easy read and was clear and understandable.  I think that this book is accessible to all audiences, but I think its biggest impact would be had on pastors and lay people who are in charge of ministries.  There will be a measure of controversy surrounding this book as I know of many a pastor who have sold out to the leadership paradigm to the point where they would turn a deaf ear to Sweet's message in this book.  But there is an important message here for the church and those who have been called by God to be the first followers that help to point others to the way, the truth and the life that Jesus is calling us to live.  Thank you Leonard Sweet for reminding me.

December 1941: A Review

My latest BookSneeze title was December 1941 by Craig Shirley.  In this book Shirley seeks to paint a picture of what was going on in America during this pivotal month of World War II.  He does this by researching any and all resources that he could get his hands on from local newspapers to memos straight from the oval office.  I can only imagine how long and tedious of a process that was but it worked.  Aside from the occasional overabundance of information, this book was well written and very informative.  The book is split up by the days of the month with Shirley doing his best to paint the overarching view of the country on that particular day.  I highly recommend this book, especially for any history buffs or those interested in a glimpse at the past.  Get this book!

Expanded Bible NKJV: A Review

I just received an ebook copy of "The Expanded Bible" from the BookSneeze bloggers program and I will admit that I am fairly impressed.  I was intrigued to find out how they would incorporate some of the alternate translations and more in depth notes differently than a normal study Bible, which is ultimately what sets this Bible apart.  As you probably know, most study Bibles will put those things in a footnote where you have the option to glance down if you choose.  The difference with "The Expanded Bible" is that those notes are embedded in the text.  The translation team has come up with a few ways to denote the differences between what they are embedding.  It is fairly confusing at first, but the more I read the more I got used to it.  I would recommend reading the introduction to find out more about this.

I do not foresee The Expanded Bible as being my main Bible to read, instead I think this will be a study reference.  While the embedded information is very helpful, it is a little too cumbersome for simply doing a reading and not a study.  The main translation that is used is NKJV which I do not use regularly, but I appreciate the alternative translations listed.  I would recommend The Expanded Bible for those looking to do a more in depth look at scripture, especially in the area of how words are translated.

The Seraph Seal: A Review

My lastest Book Sneeze selection was The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner.  This is a fictional look at the end times that is radically different from previous books in this genre.  The book is set in the year 2048 and the main cast of characters are on a journey to put together a variety of clues that they have recently discovered.  Little do they know but they are the ones who have been chosen to help humanity follow after God at the end of times.  They are of course opposed by a man who is looking to dominate and rule over humanity.  What unfolds is an adventure that brings together history, religion, philosophy, biology, chemistry, economics, technology, philanthropy and so much more.   I felt that Sweet and Wagner told a good story, but it was a little slow in the beginning and also was a tad bit on the complex side.  But I think that was necessary to fully explain how the world of 2048 is different from 2011.  In order to fully grasp it you almost need to be thinking in terms of science fiction, or just fully engage your imagination.  Overall I enjoyed this book and it only took around a week to finish.  I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it.  Just remember to push out your own preconceptions about the end times while reading this book and I'll think you'll enjoy it for what it is.

A faith that needs to be Unleashed

My latest BookSneeze offering is "Unleashed" by Erwin McManus.  In this book McManus is spreading the message that God desires for his people to live with an untamed faith.  By this he means a faith that is not civilized and scared but instead one that is bold and willing to take risks.  Throughout the book he weaves in personal stories of his family and how they have set out on what he calls the barbarian way.  He mostly takes cues from his daughter and wife, but throws in stories about his son and himself as well.  His main point is that too often we have been bound to what is supposedly the "correct" way to live a Christian life, but in truth trying to follow this way has caused many people to lose their ability to recognize the promptings of the Spirit.  Here's a sample quote on this thought.  "Perhaps the tragedy of our time is that such an overwhelming number of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become domesticated - or, if you will, civilized.  We have lost the simplicity of our early faith.  Beyond that, we have lost the passion and power of that raw, untamed, and primal faith."

All in all I think this is a great book and would recommend it to anyone.  The writing is very engaging and accessible.  In fact I almost felt like the four chapters were four sermons in a series.  You can tell that McManus is that type of communicator and it works well.

The Jesus Inquest

 My latest read from the BookSneeze bloggers program was "The Jesus Inquest" by Charles Foster.  Foster is a barrister (lawyer) in England and he presents two sides to the resurrection through the eyes and arguments of two fictitious barristers (X and Y).  The format of the book is that X presents evidence opposing the truth of the resurrection and Y rebuts the evidence.  This format helps to keep the main arguments on topic and not going off in the many different rabbit trails that this subject matter could lead one down.  I thought this book was very well written and easy to understand.  It exposed many new theories about the resurrection, mainly against, that I had not previously been exposed.  Some of these theories were really far fetched and some of them made logical sense, but they were contrary to what is found in scripture.  It was also interesting to read an apocryphal New Testament writing, the gospel of Peter, and to learn the similarities and differences from the writing found in the canon.

All in all I thought this was a great book and would have no problem recommending it to people.  It was an easy read and not very long.

Fasting

My latest book from the Book Sneeze bloggers program is called "Fasting" by Scot McKnight.  While this might seem a curious title to read around the holidays, I did enjoy reading the e-book version on my new Kindle.  This is the fourth title that I've read in the Ancient Practices series and probably one of my favorites.  I really love McKnight's writing style and how he weaves in teaching about the ancient Jewish understanding of his subject as well as the early church understanding and how it has evolved over time.  As an associate pastor, I have often taught on and lead groups through various fasts, especially through the season of Lent.  But after reading McKnight's book I have a slightly different take on fasting.  Most of that is through his assertion that fasting, in the Biblical sense, can only be defined as refraining from food and/or water.  He made the distinction of abstaining from certain things (caffeine, TV, etc) is not really a Biblical fast.  Probably the biggest revelation for me is his central thesis of how a fast "works."  I put works in quotations because fasting is not some formula that we plug certain things into and then expect a certain result from God, although many do feel that way.  McKnight brought to my realization that fasting is a response from a God event, where the one experiencing the event is moved to repentance and a further longing for connection with God, and in some cases there is a result that does occur.  He diagrammed this as a movement from A > B > C.  Of course there is more to his point and I will leave that to the book to explain.  I would definitely recommend this book.

The Gospel According to Jesus

 The most recent book that I have read through the book sneeze program is "The Gospel According to Jesus."  It is written by Chris Seay, who is the founding pastor of Ecclesia Church in Houston.  I know that there are a lot of books going around on the subject of the gospel, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The thing that I most appreciated is that Seay talked about the gospel in holistic terms.  Too often we only speak of the gospel in terms of salvation in the end and we miss out on the implication of what God wants to do through us in the here and now.  Coming from a holiness denomination this is a very frustrating view that I hear all too often.  But Seay reminds us that the gospel is also about joining in what God is doing in the world around us.  His book is a call for us to wake up and join in this very work.  This is not a works based social gospel, which I'm sure some are accusing him of promoting, but a call to understand that God has called us for a purpose in the here and now.

This is a very easy read and could easily be used in a small group setting.  I believe that Seay writes in a way that not only makes his point, but also nudges you to think beyond his point.  This is a call for the community of the people of God to dream about what God can do and for us to get out of our church buildings and actually do those things.  Read this book!

Beyond Opinion

I have recently read "Beyond Opinion" as a part of the book sneeze bloggers program.  This book is a modern day apologetic of the Christian faith and they are tackling issues that rise from other world religions, atheism and the post-modern paradigm.  I felt that each essay was well constructed and that the authors were successful in stating their case.  I personally am not a huge proponent of apologetics, but do feel that they are an important arm in our understanding of the evangelistic calling that we have as the people of God.  But in saying that I don't think that apologetics are the ultimate answer.  I do however feel that this book is a great resource for a considered response to many of the issues that are challenging Christianity in the world today.  I would recommend this book for someone looking for help in addressing those areas.

Jesus Manifesto

I recently finished reading "Jesus Manifesto" as I got a copy from the BookSneeze bloggers program.  I did enjoy reading this book and felt that the authors did a good job of stating their case.  The writing style is very accessible for any reader and their message is definitely for the church and those who call themselves Christian.  My only minor irritation with the book is that I pretty much knew where they were going after the first few pages, but this book only has one subject in Jesus Christ.

All of that being said, I think this is a timely message for the church to get back to Jesus.  As someone who preaches from time to time and is involved in sermon discussions for our church, I was convicted about how many of our sermons point back to Christ.  I feel that we do a good job of that, but still something to think about.  I also really enjoyed the chapter that they wrote on justice and mercy and how they find their fulfillment in Christ.  I won't go into any detail as to ruin it for you, but I resonated with much of what they said in that particular chapter.

I do believe that Jesus Manifesto is worth a read and I hope and pray that it's message will cause all of us who claim Christ as Lord to really think about if we live as if Christ is Lord in our lives.

The Sacred Journey

I am reviewing this book as a part of the booksneeze blogger program.  This is the fourth title in the Ancient Practices series that I have read, and I would have to say that this was the hardest.  Not because it wasn't well written, that is not the case, but because I figured out early on that the message of this book would be tough to swallow.  Or maybe I should say that the message that spoke to me was a little hard to swallow.  The major message that I heard in this book is the necessity for the journey and moving that God has always seemed to call his people to be about.  One cannot discount that the narrative of Scripture leads us to discover that God's people always seem to be on the move, whether by force or choice.  But as I navigate through my comfortable, middle class American life, I can't help but think about how I am so resistant to being on the move.  In fact, I cannot wait until this current phase of the life of my family is over and we can actually set down roots and fully invest in the community in which we live.  I would so like to equate the physical journey to a spiritual journey, and in some respects I think there is a correlation, but I don't know if that's what the author had in mind.  I did appreciate the many accounts of being on the move that the author shared and found the willingness to engage in that very fascinating.  Because of this I believe the author does have a unique perspective to share on the subject.  I would definitely recommend this book, but beware that it might mess with you in a good way.

Chronological Guide to the Bible

I recently received and have read through the Chronological Guide to the Bible as a part of the Book Sneeze program through Thomas Nelson Publishing. I chose this book for two reasons. First, I was curious about the premise of a chronological order to the Bible. I have known for quite some time that the Bible was no fully in chronological order, but never really knew where to start in reading the Bible in that way. Second, I thought it might be a good reference tool for my library and I believe I was right.

Let me first say that I love the layout of the book. They have divided history into nine epochs and the introduction to each epoch includes some of the major events and developments in history as well as in the Biblical narrative. After this introduction there is a reading list in order to follow along in chronological order which allows this book to be compatible with any translation of the Bible. There are then a few little articles highlighting various thing in certain passages that might correspond to events in history. These articles are very easy to read and understand and really help the reader gain a deeper understanding.

Overall I am very pleased with this product and am looking forward to digging into more and more of the content found inside. In just the week or so that I have been looking through it, I've gained some deeper understanding. I would definitely recommend this book. Just make sure that you read the introduction to the book so that you will understand some of the decisions that were made in putting this book together.

The Voice of Psalms

My latest book from the Book Sneeze program is entitled "The Voice of Psalms." It is the book of Psalms "retold by the friends of Ecclesia Bible Society." (Their words on the title page.) If you have never been exposed to the voice project, I encourage you to look them up here. While I know that many people will have problems with the voice translation, I on the other hand enjoy what they are doing. For the most part, their translation is pretty similar, but there are some differences. They have added words in italics to help with understanding, which do not bother me one bit. In most cases I found that this was helpful. They have also substituted the words God and Lord with Eternal One. Here again, this does not bother me greatly but I know there will be some who are outraged about this. There are also reflections after most of the psalms for a little bit of a deeper understanding, which are always welcomed in my opinion.

I would probably never use the voice translation as my primary text to preach from, but have used it as a reference from time to time. I also own the New Testament version of the voice and cannot wait for them to put out a full canon edition. I tend to reach for my voice translation in personal reading just as I do the various other translations that I own. For me it is how I gain a better overall picture of the text.

I would totally recommend "The Voice of Psalms" for someone who would like another perspective on one of the most beautiful and poetic books in the Bible. I personally am using one of their reading plans during this season of Lent and have enjoyed spending this time in Psalms as a part of my journey. Keep up the good work Ecclesia Bible Society. I do look forward to hopefully having a full Bible one day from your project.

The Sacred Meal

I recently finished the book, "The Sacred Meal", as a part of the book sneeze blogger program. I chose this book because the practice of Communion is one that I take very seriously and am always up for a fresh perspective. For all of my life I have been a part of a denomination that doesn't know exactly what to do with Communion. Each church basically chooses how frequently and in what manner they engage this ancient practice of the church. I really did not have a problem with this until I began to take my faith more seriously and even entering into vocational ministry. Through education and personal experience I began to have a greater appreciation for the deep meaning that Communion provides on our faith journey. So from that perspective I was eager to read what the author had to say on the matter.

I found "The Sacred Meal" to be an easy read that is truly geared for the everyday Christian. The author speaks from an Episcopal background and has served the Eucharist in her church for many years. I found myself underlining many sentences for further reflection as the author reaffirmed what the practice of Communion celebrates and how it affects our communal life together. I was personally affected by the perspectives of the practice that the author described as waiting, receiving and afterward. I won't spoil what the author writes, but I will say that the idea of waiting was a fresh perspective for me. I am used to taking the bread instead of receiving the bread. Unfortunately this is mainly due to issues of convenience or making the practice as less Catholic as it can be. I believe there is something that we can learn from waiting to receive.

Lastly, I appreciated how the author connected the Eucharist to our mission in the world. Too often we have tried to separate our worship from our mission which has led to many Christians living a sort of bi-polar kind of life. But in seeing how the aspects of our worship inform our mission, we can begin to see how we live a fully abundant life. May we fully be able to live this out in every area of our life and begin to see the kingdom of God here on this earth in new ways and in new places.