Tag: Books

“Global Awakening: How 20th-Century Revivals Triggered a Christian Revolution” by Mark Shaw

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

In many ways, America is a world unto itself. Until some tragedy strikes beyond our borders, we are content to fret about our internal problems and concerns. But more and more the world out yonder is coming in to us. Globalization is forever changing our way of life. And the wide world is ever shrinking.

Almost every social arena is affected by this trend, and the Church is no exception. American Christianity has long prided itself as the beacon of world-wide missions. Yet we still are tempted to think the Church outside our shores stands in need of our American ingenuity. Mark Shaw in Global Awakening: How 20th-Century Revivals Triggered a Christian Revolution reveals how ignorant such a perspective truly is. Missionaries are now flocking to our own shores, and the story of the 20th Century is the world-wide surge of the Evangelical Church.

Some of us may have missed the newsflash. Mark Shaw explains:

When one looks beyond Atlantic shores the most significant change in the world in the last several generations is the broader revival of religion sweeping the southern hemisphere…. To miss the rise and significance of the new World Christianity would be like a concerned Christian in sixteenth-century northern Europe missing Luther and the Reformation. Something that affects the renewal of Christianity worldwide is afoot and no one should miss the party. (pg. 10-11)

From many quarters I had heard of this global renewal of Christianity. Mark Shaw’s book offered the chance for me to sample its various manifestations. Shaw uses eight case studies to illustrate his views of the nature and rise of global revivals. He argues that there are natural and supernatural factors at play. And he utilizes missiological and sociological studies to analyze these movements. Global Christianity, he finds, is less an exported Americanism than an indigenous inculturation of Christianity.

For the average Joe like you and I, his study still offers an accessible look into the variety and vivacity of worldwide Christianity. And to a large degree many of the movements he surveys from Korea and China, to India, Africa and on to South America, are the fruit of earlier mission endeavors.

The author shares what we all can learn from these historical revivals “as we look toward the future of the church” :

The current global awakening needs to shake us from our cultural isolation and obsessions as North American Christians…. What the current global awakening teaches me, however, is that the real emerging church is a wildly global and culturally pluralistic one which moves us toward the vision of 1 Corinthians 12, a body of Christ with many parts each recognizing their global interdependence. The message of global revivals is that God is internationalizing his people and we stand at an Ephesians moment (to use Andrew Walls’s expression) in which the cultural, geographic and political barriers are breaking down in light of the gospel. The current global revivals are not ends in themselves. Their ultimate significance will be seen in multicultural missional churches that seek to change their world in the power of the Spirit and in partnership with the mission of God. (from an Author Q & A provided by IVP)

This book isn’t for everyone. It’s a bit technical and doesn’t develop the stories as much as an average reader might like. Furthermore, Shaw is not as critical of new Pentecostal movements as some might like him to be. Nevertheless it offers a helpful survey of the growth of Worldwide Christianity and serves to enforce the notion that the proper term for such global developments is “revival” . Shaw helps us see that God uses both natural factors and human movements as catalysts in His work of growing His Church.

Ultimately, Global Awakening spurs us American Christians to see beyond ourselves and look for the hand of God in other places around the world. To serve this end I recommend the book for a wide audience.

Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon.com or direct from InterVarsity Press.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by IVP Academic for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

“Eye of the God” by Ariel Allison

~ Bob Hayton

The Hope Diamond, a dazzlingly blue and brilliant diamond of tremendous size and worth, is powerful both for its allure and its infamous curse. Fist time novelist, Ariel Allison spins an intricate web of international intrigue, high-tech crime and romance in Eye of the God.

The diamond leaves a trail of ruined lives detailed in the historical flashbacks throughout the book. For Dr. Abigail Mitchell it becomes an obsession. From the setting of the Smithsonian Institute, the reader is taken on a journey to Brazil, South Africa and Paris, not to mention 17th century India and 18th century France.

While the book is part crime/detective story, part history lesson and part romance, interwoven throughout its pages is a tale of redemption. The main characters overcome personal failures, familial disappointments as they find hope in a new life. Oddly the dark reputation of the Hope Diamond works a breaking of the curse in their lives.

The pace of the book keeps one turning its pages, yet at times the historical flashbacks seem too disconnected from the plot to keep your interest. And while the book promises a Christian angle to the story coming from a Christian publisher and all, its Christian message is extremely subtle. In light of this, the list of discussion questions in the back seems out of place. Still the book delivers a well done plot that will certainly merit reflection and personal contemplation.

The book makes for a good read as long as one understands it won’t be overly Christian. It’s generally clean throughout, although some sexual innuendo is present. I recommend the book with these reservations.

Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon.com or through Abingdon Press.

This book was provided by Abigndon Press for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Christian Romance Novels: A Wise Caution

~ Bob Hayton ~ 6 Comments

Jim Elliff of Christian Communicators Worldwide, drew my attention to this article on Christian Romance Novels. I thought it was a wise caution and could be a help to all of us who enjoy fiction of any kind, but particularly this genre. I’ll post some excerpts and encourage you to read the whole article.

Christian Romance Novels: Are They Our Harmless Little Secret?
by Susan Verstraete

…If you are like most believing women I know, at some point you’ve read [a Christian Romance novel], too. Obviously someone is reading them. One major Christian bookseller has over 2,000 current titles listed in this category….

So, is this a harmless area of Christian liberty? I’ll let you decide. But it wouldn’t hurt to look more carefully at what we are reading and how it might””just might””be a problem for some of us.

Have you turned off your intellect? When researchers asked women why they read Christian romance, an overwhelming majority said they valued the books because they inspired an emotional response. That’s not necessarily wrong, but we need to be discerning even when reading fiction. For example, whole series of novels are written that are “Christian” in name only. The characters are practical atheists who may attend church, but their faith does not impact their decisions. We don’t want to passively accept this as normative Christian behavior….

Does it teach idolatry? I know that sounds harsh, but hear me out. If the heroine in your novels is always saved by a lover, that’s a false redemption. Christ is our Redeemer, and God is our ever-present help in time of trouble. Our hope is in Christ, not in Prince Charming. No mere man can fix all our problems….

Is it changing your expectations?… Do you think that God will always wrap up all the loose ends in your life in a timely manner? Do you expect your life to always be exciting, or your work always fulfilling? Should you always be the center of attention? Do you fantasize about being rescued by a man from a situation in which you feel helpless? If so, you may have been influenced by reading Christian romances….

Is it a steady diet? Finishing a Christian romance novel is a little like taking the last bite of a hot fudge sundae. We usually feel a little sad that it’s over. The fantasy has ended and we return to our comparatively boring, unglamorous, meat-and-potatoes lives. The temptation is, of course, to immediately pick up a new book and immerse ourselves in a new fantasy.

In the same way that we should not allow a steady diet of hot fudge sundaes, we should not allow ourselves a steady diet of popular fiction. If we do so, we miss the chance to read material that will teach us good theology, help us grow as believers, and develop realistic expectations about relationships and spirituality….

Be sure to read the whole thing, and let me know what you think. Am I way off base in thinking this is helpful? Or does she have a good point?

I should add that some of the escapism she brings out applies to guys like me who enjoy epic, Tolkien-like fantasy books as well. This isn’t an anti-women post, or anything….

Get Your Book News Here

~ Bob Hayton

Just a quick shout out to my group book related blog. My pal Shaun Tabatt and I are posting book reviews, book news, new releases, author interviews and more over at CrossFocusedReviews.Com. If you see less news about books on this site, it’s because I’m sharing that kind of information over there. Please bookmark the site, and subscribe.

As we get closer to an official launch of the site, we plan on arranging some book giveaways for our readers.

Bob’s Best Books of 2009

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

In 2009, I’ve been blessed to review 29 (make that 28, see below*) books. From these books, I wanted to list my favorites. Rather than give a top 10, which so many others have done, I thought I’d list the best book from several different categories. With some honorable mentions thrown in, I list the best 9 books of 2009.

I want to also take this opportunity to thank the 20+ publishers who have provided books for me to review here. I also owe huge thanks to my readers. Thanks to you all, my site reached over 128,000 hits this year! I aim to keep offering quality content on my blog beyond book reviews, and I pray my site has been a blessing to some of you this year in your Christian walk.

Without further ado, here are Bob’s Best Books of 2009.

Best “Christian Life” book — A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller (NavPress). This is more than a challenging book on prayer. It’s an encouraging read that will inspire you to pray more. Best book I read all year, hand’s down.

Honorable mention — Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World edited by C.J. Mahaney (Crossway). Worldliness is the scourge of the modern church. This book steers clear of legalism as it addresses this important topic. You will be blessed by this extended application of 1 Jn. 2:15 “Love not the world”.

Best “Devotional” book — Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter by Nancy Guthrie (Crossway). This book collects 25 excellent readings on the importance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The selections are from great authors past and present, and will do much to stir your soul.

Best “Theology” Book — Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures by Dennis Johnson (P & R Publishing). This book should be required reading for all pastoral theology majors. Everything from biblical hermeneutics, biblical theology, the history of bible interpretation and preaching, and how the Old Testament and the New Testament are unified is covered. The best part comes when the author illustrates his method of finding Christ in all the Scriptures through several sample OT and NT texts. This book will make the Bible come alive as never before.

Honorable mention — The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority by G.K. Beale (Crossway). While the discussion gets somewhat technical, the topic is important. Beale ably responds to Peter Enns’ stretching of the definition of “inerrancy”. Beale demonstrates how scholarship can interact with ancient near-Eastern studies, and yet remain faithful to a robust evangelical view of Scripture. Beale’s points are worth considering as the challenges must be faced by all students of Scripture. I particularly enjoyed Beale’s treatment of the cosmic temple theme as developed throughout Scripture. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

Best “Family” book — What He Must Be If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham Jr. (Crossway). This book is insightful and refreshing. In a humorous way, it handles sensitive and all-important topics. It’s perfect for parents, or young adults thinking through how best to find a mate.

Best “Reference” book — New Testament Text and Translation Commentary by Philip W. Comfort (Tyndale House). This handy tool discusses almost every textual variant that impacts translations. The variants are listed in canonical order, and the chief Greek manuscripts, Greek texts and key English Bibles are listed as supporting or following the various readings. Difficult variants are discussed at length in a layman-friendly, straightforward style.

Best “Commentary” — Reformed Expository Commentary: James by Daniel M. Doriani (P & R Publishing). This commentary is truly a joy to read. Written by a pastor-scholar, the book addresses scholarly concerns even as it pastorally applies the Scripture. This is an accessible commentary which illustrates how to handle the text. James is opened up for the reader, and the light of the gospel shines through. The book captures the right balance, in my view, of scholarship and practicality. Highly recommended.

Honorable Mention — NIV Application Commentary: Joshua by Robert Hubbard Jr. (Zondervan). This commentary was also fun to read. While it is more technical, it doesn’t aim to just inform the reader. It’s goal is to bridge the gap from the ancient world of the text to the modern day, highlighting the text’s contemporary significance. Joshua truly does come alive through this book.

See all the books I’ve reviewed here. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads, too. For information on how you can get books to review on your blog, read this post.

*I have since retabulated my numbers and am considering two small board books for kids to be just 1 book in my count.