Review-A. W. Tozer-The Radical Cross

 

The Radical Cross is a collection pulled from Tozer’s teachings from the 1940s-1960s centered on the cross of Christ and its impact on everyday Christian discipleship. Tozer's central concern is that Christians can become satisfied with a comfortable, cultural  version of Christianity while neglecting the radical demands of following Jesus. As I have found out from other Tozer books, even though it was written many years ago, it is still lessons we need to learn today.

The cross, for Tozer, is not merely the place where Christ paid for our sins. It is also the pattern for the Christian life, a call to surrender ourselves to God.

Some of the themes he covers in this collection are:

·         The cross is more than a doctrine.

·         At times, Christians can affirm the historical reality of the cross without allowing it to transform the way they live.

·         Grace does not eliminate surrender.

·         Tozer strongly emphasizes that salvation is God's gift, but genuine discipleship involves yielding our lives, ambitions, desires, and will to Christ.

·         The Christian life involves dying to self.

·         One of Tozer's recurring themes is Paul's statement in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ.” The cross confronts our determination to remain in control.

·         Comfort can become an enemy of discipleship.

 Tozer challenges the tendency to reduce Christianity to personal happiness, security, and blessing. Following Christ may require sacrifice and obedience.

The purpose of surrender isn't misery for its own sake. Tozer believes that relinquishing self-rule opens the way to a deeper experience of God's presence.

Tozer repeatedly calls Christians away from superficial religion toward holiness, reverence, obedience, and genuine communion with God.

The author makes the cross personal. Tozer doesn't allow the reader to keep the cross at arm's length as merely something Jesus did for us. He asks what the cross means for us today.

He challenges comfortable Christianity. This is probably the book's strongest feature. Tozer asks uncomfortable questions about whether our faith has actually cost us anything.

His writing is direct and memorable. The author has a gift for turning theological ideas into statements that stick with you. His tone can be confrontational, but that is intentional. He wants to wake the reader up.

 He emphasizes God Himself. Even when discussing sacrifice and self-denial, Tozer's ultimate concern is not religious performance. His goal is a believer who wants God more than anything else.

The same intensity that makes Tozer powerful can also make the book challenging.

At times, his language can seem overly absolute.

His critique of modern Christianity can feel repetitive.

Readers may occasionally wonder whether his emphasis on self-denial gives sufficient attention to the joy, assurance, and freedom that are also central to the gospel.

The Radical Cross is not primarily a book about understanding the mechanics of the atonement. It is a book about what the cross means for the person who claims to follow Jesus.

Tozer's basic message could be summarized this way:

The cross that saves us is also the cross that calls us to surrender.

That makes the book particularly valuable for Christians who have been walking with Christ for many years and find themselves asking whether their faith has become too comfortable or routine.

Its call to move from believing about Christ to actually surrendering to Christ.

It is best to read this slowly, perhaps one chapter at a time, with an open Bible. Tozer is much better suited to reflection and examination than to simply reading quickly for information.

The Radical Cross is a challenging and spiritually provocative Tozer book. It will probably not make the reader more comfortable, but it can make the reader think more seriously about what it means to belong completely to Jesus.

This is a book I will return to in the future.  Tozer’s themes and approach were a wake-up call for me. It is one of my favorite reads of 2026.

Review-Esau McCaulley-God's Colorful Christmas

 

God’s Colorful Christmas written by Esau McCaulley and illustrated by Rogerio Coelho. Published September 8, 2026.

Esau McCaulley offers a fresh and thought-provoking look at the Christmas story in God’s Colorful Christmas. He reminds us that Jesus’ birth is not simply the story of a baby in a manger, but part of God’s larger plan to bring people from every nation, culture, and background into His family.

He engages the reader with sections such as the description of the shepherds.  By describing them as “they didn’t get invited to parties for the rich and famous” and not being chosen first for sports teams, I believe this is something that readers of all ages can connect to.

The description of the wise men traveling to see Jesus is used to remind us that God still brings people from all over the world to see and worship our savior.

The book challenges Christians to see the church as a reflection of that diverse family and to resist attitudes of exclusion and prejudice.

This is a short but meaningful Christmas book that encourages us to look beyond the familiar nativity story and consider the broader implications of Christ’s coming.

Coelho’s art is stunning.  It helps bring the text to life.  When you read this book, take the time to actually look at the drawings.

I highly recommend this book for children.

Review-Trusting God in Turbulent Times

 

Trusting God in Turbulent Times by Tony Evans. Published September 8, 2026.

I have never met Tony Evans but started listening to his sermons and reading his books many years ago.  When our oldest son was diagnosed with leukemia and went to his heavenly reward, a couple of Evans’ books helped me through those days.  His “Hope for the Hurting” and “Divine Interruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart” (co-written with his family) were good books that helped me through the dark days. I have recommended them to various people going through similar circumstances.

I look at this devotional as an unofficial part of the same series.

As the author describes it in the introduction, it is easy to be faithful when things are going well.  It’s when the turbulence hits that our faith and trust in God is tested.

As you read through the devotional, Evans keeps bringing the reader back to Scripture.

This is not simply a collection of inspirational thoughts. Scripture is intended to be the foundation for the devotional material. Each entry begins with a selected biblical passage or verse, followed by reflection and application.

That is important because Christian encouragement becomes shallow when it is disconnected from God's Word.

The interactive challenges are a particularly good feature. Evans doesn't simply say, "Trust God." He encourages readers to consider what trusting God actually looks like in their circumstances.

One of the book's best qualities is that the answer to turbulence isn't presented as "God will make everything go the way you want."

Instead, the emphasis is on God's faithfulness and presence.

That's a much more biblical foundation for Christian hope.

Readers shouldn't approach this expecting a lengthy theological examination of suffering or divine sovereignty. The format is deliberately accessible: Scripture, reflection, and application. That makes it easy to read one entry a day.

I see this as a devotional I will return to in the future.

Highly recommended.

Review-Matthew Boswell-Create in Me a Clean Heart

 

Create in Me a Clean Heart by Matthew Boswell. Published September 1, 2026.

There are some Christian books that give you information. There are others that make you stop and examine your own heart.  Matthew Boswell's Create in Me a Clean Heart: Experiencing God's Abundant Mercy in Psalm 51 is one of those books.

Psalm 51 is one of the most familiar passages in the Bible concerning repentance. It is David's prayer after his devastating sin. David had failed miserably, but instead of running away from God, he ran toward Him.

That is the heart of this book.

Boswell takes us through Psalm 51 and shows us what genuine repentance looks like, what God's mercy accomplishes, and how God can take a broken and sinful heart and begin the work of restoration. The book follows four movements in Psalm 51: a repentant heart, a restored heart, a renewed heart, and a responsive heart.

I found that progression particularly helpful.

David begins by acknowledging his sin. He doesn't make excuses. He doesn't blame someone else. He doesn't try to convince God that his sin wasn't really that bad.

He simply confesses. And that's where repentance begins.

We live in a world where people are very good at explaining why they do what they do. We can always find someone or something to blame.

David doesn't do that.

He says, in essence, "God, I have sinned."

That is a difficult prayer to pray…but it is also a liberating one.

We need more than forgiveness.

One of the things I appreciated about Boswell's approach is that he doesn't stop with forgiveness.

David asks God to cleanse him.

He asks God to create something new within him.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God."

David realizes something important: he can't fix his own heart and neither can we.

We can change our behavior for a while. We can make promises. We can try harder. We can convince ourselves that we will never make the same mistake again.

But ultimately, we need God to do a work in us. That's what makes the gospel so powerful.

Christianity isn't simply about becoming a better person. It's about allowing God to transform us from the inside out. This may be the part of the book that spoke to me the most.

What do we do after we fail?

Some people hide.

Some become overwhelmed with guilt.

Others try to convince themselves that what happened wasn't really that serious.

David gives us another response.

We go to God.

David doesn't pretend his sin didn't happen. He doesn't minimize it. But he also doesn't allow his failure to become the end of his relationship with God. He asks for mercy. He asks for cleansing. He asks for restoration.

And then he asks God to restore the joy of his salvation.

That's an important reminder for Christians.

Sometimes we know we're forgiven, but we don't live like we're forgiven.

We continue carrying the guilt of something God has already forgiven.

Boswell reminds us that God's mercy isn't simply about wiping our record clean. God's mercy begins the process of restoring our relationship with Him.

The title of the book comes from perhaps the best-known verse in Psalm 51:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

That is a prayer worth praying regularly.

Notice David doesn't say, "God, help me become a little better." He says, "Create."

That's a powerful word.

David knows he needs something God alone can provide. And isn't that true for all of us? There are attitudes we can't seem to change. There are temptations we continue to struggle with. There are hurts we can't seem to let go of. There are sins we wish we could erase from our past.

We need more than willpower.

We need God to create in us a clean heart.

Another strength of the book is the way Boswell connects repentance with worship.

We might think of repentance as something negative, something associated with guilt, sorrow, and failure. But Psalm 51 doesn't end there. It ends with praise.

David's experience of God's mercy leads him to want to tell others about God's ways and declare God's praise. That's a beautiful picture of what God can do with a restored life. Our greatest failures don't have to be the final chapter.

God can use even our brokenness to point others toward His grace.

We don't praise God because we've never failed.

We praise Him because He is merciful when we do.

I appreciated the fact that Boswell takes sin seriously without leaving the reader hopeless. There is no attempt to make David's sin seem insignificant. But the book also doesn't leave us sitting in guilt. The emphasis is on God's mercy.

That makes this a very pastoral book. It's a book that speaks to the person who knows they've failed. And, if we're honest, that's all of us.

I also appreciated the Christ-centered nature of the book. Psalm 51 points us toward our need for forgiveness, and ultimately that forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ. We don't earn God's forgiveness by feeling bad enough. We don't earn it by trying harder. We receive it because of God's grace.

He wants us to understand Psalm 51, but more importantly, he wants us to feel the weight of its message in our own lives.

At times, some of the ideas are repeated. But I didn't find that particularly distracting. I often repeat the main idea a few times in my sermons. I think God has to repeat things to us in the Bible so that it will stay with us. When the subject is repentance, forgiveness, and God's mercy, sometimes repetition is exactly what we need.

Who Would Benefit From This Book? I would recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with guilt, shame, or failure.

 

I could especially see it being helpful for:

·         Someone trying to understand biblical repentance

·         A Christian struggling to accept God's grace and forgiveness

·         Someone who has experienced a serious moral failure

·         A small group studying repentance and forgiveness

·         Pastors preparing to preach or teach Psalm 51

·         Anyone who feels spiritually distant from God

 

It would also make a good devotional read. I wouldn't rush through it. Psalm 51 (like the rest of the Bible) is a passage that deserves time for reflection.

One of the things I love about Psalm 51 is that David's failure isn't the end of the story.

God's mercy is.

That's also the message I took away from Matthew Boswell's Create in Me a Clean Heart.

We all have things we wish we could go back and change.

We all have words we wish we hadn't spoken.

We all have decisions we regret.

We all have moments when we have failed God and failed others.

The temptation is to hide. But the gospel tells us to come to God.

Confess, repent and receive His mercy.

Allow God to begin His renewing work in our hearts. The Christian life isn't about reaching a point where we no longer need God's grace. It's about discovering, day after day, just how much we need it…and how abundantly God provides it.

Create in Me a Clean Heart reminded me that repentance isn't about running away from God because of our sin.

It's about running toward God because of His mercy.

And that is a message every Christian needs to hear.

Highly recommended.

Review-Jonathan R. Bailey-Dwelling in Christ

 

Jonathan R. Bailey’s “Dwelling in Christ: Discover the Threefold Path of Spiritual Transformation” is a new book scheduled for release September 1, 2026.

At its heart, Dwelling in Christ asks a simple but important question:

Are we merely trying harder to be Christians, or are we actually being transformed by Christ?

I like the way the author worked in his own struggles with repeatedly trying to recommit himself to God and do better, only to find himself caught in the same cycle. I believe this is a struggle that all Christians face.  It is a relief to read about others facing the same problems and learning how they deal with it. He came to see that Christian growth isn’t just a matter of making stronger resolutions. It is a lifelong journey of transformation with God.

The book draws on the ancient Christian Threefold Way. I was not familiar with that title but the concepts are very familiar.

1.      Purgation - being cleansed or pruning for growth. Anyone with trees or shrubs are familiar with this concept. We learn to confess and surrender sinful patterns, attachments, and false identities. Any time we “cut away” something, it can be hard. But until we start surrendering the sinful behaviors, we can’t start making room for the traits we should be focused on.

2.      Illumination - learning to see and begin receiving transformation. As we become more attentive to God, we begin to see ourselves, others, Scripture, and the world differently. God’s truth changes from something we “know is right” to something that actually changes our life. Spiritual practices help train our attention toward God.

3.      Union - abiding in and deepening our oneness with God. The goal isn’t simply becoming a better person. You can become a “good” person without this. The goal is deeper communion with Christ. As true believers we need to learn to dwell in God’s love and live from that relationship.

Bailey presents these not simply as three boxes to check but as movements within an ongoing journey toward Christlikeness. I like this approach.  Too many times it can be easy to adopt the “check the box” lifestyle.  As Christians we should be striving to be more like Christ everyday.

One of the strongest ideas in the book is the contrast between transactional Christianity and transformational Christianity.

Bailey describes his former approach as essentially:

“I’ll try harder this time.”

But the Christian life is not about trying harder to impress God. It is about learning to live with God so that His presence gradually changes us.

I would recommend this book as a good place to start, after the Bible, on developing a closer relationship with God.

Bailey also mentions many other books that inspired him.  I will be looking them up to add to my to be read list.

Review-Max Lucado's Tame Your Thoughts

 

We all have thoughts that we wish we could turn off.

Sometimes it’s worry about something that hasn't happened yet. Sometimes it’s replaying something that happened yesterday. Sometimes it is fear, discouragement, anger, or simply wondering, “what if?”

Our minds can be a noisy place.

That is what makes Max Lucado’s book Tame Your Thoughts so timely. Lucado deals with something every one of us faces, the battle that takes place in our minds.

The basic message of the book is simply that we don't have to allow every thought that enters our minds to control us.

That is an important distinction. We cannot always control what thoughts come into our minds. A troubling thought may suddenly appear. A memory may come back. Fear may creep in. But just because a thought enters our mind doesn't mean we have to believe it, dwell on it, or allow it to determine how we live.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

That is really at the heart of Lucado's message.

We need to learn to recognize our thoughts and ask, “Is this true? Does this agree with God's Word? Is this helping me trust God, or is it pulling me away from Him?”

One thing I appreciate about this book is that Lucado doesn't pretend that Christians will never struggle with negative thoughts. We all do. Living in a fallen world means we will have struggles, worries and, at times, become discouraged.

It means we don't have to face those thoughts alone.

When worry says, “what if everything goes wrong?” faith reminds us that God is still in control.

When fear says, “you can't handle this,” Scripture reminds us that God is with us.

When discouragement says, “there is no hope,” God's Word reminds us that our hope is found in Him.

That is where this book becomes very practical.

Lucado encourages us to replace unhealthy thinking with biblical thinking. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

That doesn't mean we ignore the problems around us. It means we don't allow our problems to become bigger in our minds than our God is.

I also appreciated the author’s emphasis on prayer.

Philippians 4:6–7 tells us not to be anxious, but to bring our concerns to God through prayer and thanksgiving. God's answer isn't always to immediately change the situation. Sometimes He changes us in the middle of the situation by giving us His peace.

That is a lesson for all of us.

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about a problem that we forget to pray about it.

We replay the problem over and over in our head.

We think about it constantly.

We imagine every possible outcome.

And then we wonder why we are anxious.

Lucado reminds us to take those thoughts to God.

Like previous Lucado books, one of the strengths of Tame Your Thoughts is that it is easy to understand. Lucado writes in a conversational way, and his illustrations make the subject relatable. You don't have to be a theologian or a psychologist to understand what he is saying.

At the same time, I don't think this book is intended to be a deep academic study of the human mind. It is much more practical than that. Lucado's goal is to help Christians understand that our thought life matters and to give us biblical tools for dealing with the thoughts that can control us.

And that is probably what I appreciate most about the book.

It reminds us that our thoughts are important, but they don't have to be in charge.

We will have thoughts of fear.

We will have moments of doubt.

We will have days when discouragement gets the better of us.

But we can bring those thoughts to Christ, compare them to Scripture, and replace the lies with God’s truth.

And we can choose to focus our minds on the One who is greater than whatever we are facing.

One of my favorite examples is the chapter where Lucado imagines receiving a letter from Moses that deals with complaining. 

Overall, I found Tame Your Thoughts to be an encouraging and practical reminder of the importance of our thought life.

The book doesn't promise that we will never have another negative thought. Instead, it points us toward something more realistic and biblical: learning what to do with those thoughts when they come.

We may not always be able to control the first thought that enters our minds.

But with God's help, we can control what we do with it.

And sometimes, the battle we need to win today isn't happening around us.

It's happening between our ears.

The NEW Bedford Review

 First off, an explanation.

If anyone read my last post and is still reading, I owe you an apology.  Due to various work and health situations, I dropped the ball. 

Many life changes have led me to get back into reviewing.

1.The biggest change my family has experienced is our oldest son going to his eternal reward. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Joel was a high school teacher, married to the love of his life, an elder at the church they attended, and started preaching. His battle with this disease and how he and his wife handled it inspired many others. The only advice I can give to parents watching their child go through this is hold tight to your spouse and keep God at the center of everything. My wife and I could not have survived it without God's help.

2. As I prayed about why Joel had to go through this, I questioned God. He led me to start speaking at various local churches that don't have pastors. God has used me to help others who are suffering with loss.  I am now speaking 3 to 4 times a month and it is a blessing to me.

3. At the end of 2025 I retired from my secular job.  Now I have the time to devote to additional reading and writing reviews.

I will be covering books (new and old), movies, etc. If it works out, I might be adding some interviews.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of faith.

 

Return of the Bedford Review

Once again, health issues and personal life have prevented me from posting on this blog.  Things in general have finally settled down.  The doctor have my Raynaud's Disease under control so I plan on returning to blogging for 2017.  I am already working on some posts so I can start the year off on the right foot.

Silence and Beauty

Author:  Makoto Fujimura

First Publication:  May, 2016

Publisher:  InterVarsity Press

Source:  Netgalley

One of the great classics of Christian literature is "Silence" by Shusako Endo.  Fujimura reflects on and examines it through a lens of pain, art and culture.  "Silence and Beauty" gives the reader a unique insight into Endo's classic work.

A Diary of Private Prayer

Author:  John Baillie

First Publication:  October 2014

Publisher:  Scribner

Source:  Netgalley

From Goodreads:  In this book of personal devotions, noted theologian Dr. John Baillie offers personal prayers for people who are seeking a better understanding of God and themselves.  Intermingling adoring and meditative thoughts about God with a concern for the social and individual good, these daily invocations help and inspire us to search within our inner selves and find the deep religious beliefs that lie within.

Editor Susanna Wright has updated it by using modern language to capture the spirit of the origin edition.  Baillie wrote prayers for morning and evening with special ones for Sundays.

Baillie does a great job of giving you a morning prayer that guides you to focus on God each day.  In the hectic pace of day to day living it is easy to let our focus drift away from what God wants us to do.  His prayers are a good way of starting the day off on the right foot.

The evening prayers give thanks for the day and guidance for others in your life.    Due to the events of the average day, we tend to not always remember to give thanks.  Even when it seems like something happened that is not what we thought it would be, we should still thank God.  He is in control.  Baillie helps us to remember that.


I would recommend this book to everyone to read.  If you have friends who need help with their prayer life, it would make an excellent gift.

The Evangelism Study Bible

From the back cover:  The Evangelism Study Bible provides all the tools you need to learn to share the gospel clearly and simply as God opens doors of opportunity.



The New King James Version takes the lyrical, poetic King James translation and updates some of the language.  It makes it easier for today's Christians to read and understand the classic translation while still retaining the feel of the original version.  I remember the first Bible I had in this translation.  It stayed a favorite of mine for many years until it became to worn for everyday use.

Among the many special features of this Bible are:

• Introductions to each book that help the reader to focus on the evangelism aspect of that particular book.
• Over 2,600 study notes help the reader to understand the passages.  At the same time they also help to point out the evangelism aspects of the passage.
• Tips for how to build your evangelism skill set so you become more comfortable with sharing the gospel.
• Detailed articles that explain the various parts of evangelism such as apologetics.
• Additional how-to articles to assist with developing your evangelical skills.
• Devotions to help your relationship with Christ to grow.
• Other features that appear in other study Bibles such as maps and cross-references.

An example of an illustration from Galatians.

I found many of the articles to be either a great reminder or a good way to see how evangelism permeates the Bible.  Reading this study Bible helps to keep the reader focused on how important it is to practice evangelism every day.  Most Christians know the role of evangelism but sometimes need a reminder.  The Evangelism Study Bible provides that extra boost to keep us on track.

I strongly recommend getting this Bible.

The copy I received for review was supplied by Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, a Vision of Hope

Author:  Timothy Joyce

First Publication:  March 1998

Publisher:  Orbis Books

Format:  Paper

Source:  loan

From Goodreads:  This fascinating book introduces the mysterious and extraordinary world of Celtic Christianity. Timothy Joyce, a Benedictine monk of Irish descent, evokes the distinctive spirituality that drew on pre-Christian beliefs and culture. He shows how this style of Christianity changed, was subordinated, and gave way to the larger Roman church, and yet how elements endured. Finally, he explores what Celtic spirituality has to offer today to the church as well as spiritual seekers.Celtic spirituality is holistic -- a joyful, mystically-inclined spirituality that affirms the goodness of creation, urges respect for women's gifts, and finds expression in poetry, myth, and song. Joyce recounts the heroic stories of such saints as Patrick, Bridget, Columcille, and Columba. But he goes beyond other treatments to explore how this tradition was gradually subsumed by a more rigid style of "Irish Catholicism, " and he reflects on the centuries of suffering that have left an indelible mark on the Irish consciousness and spirit. Yet ultimately Joyce shows how the recovery of this ancient tradition of Christianity might rejuvenate the church and contribute to spiritual renewal today.

When Pastor Josh brought up Celtic Christianity, I realized that I did not know much about it.  I had heard about it and knew of Saint Patrick but that was the extent of my familiarity.  He loaned me this book to help fill me in on the history of this part of Christian history.  It led to an interesting discussion.

Some of the interesting tidbits I learned were:

• The Celts embraced Christianity peacefully.
• Martyrdom is practically unknown in the Celtic church.
• Emphasized community, relationships, and the equal gifts of all.
• Believed that all are called to live the life of a monk, even the married.
• The second most important saint was Bridget (showing the equality between the sexes).
• Accepted the trinity without debate.

One of the main beliefs is that everything reflects the sacred and the secular.  While they did not worship trees, the Celts believed that God could be seen in the beauty of the tree and everything else in this secular world.

Favorite quote:  "Spirituality is the manner in which we humans face the transcendent in our lives, the particular way we approach the divine and ultimate reality beyond us."

Based on their views on equality(all people are equal), ecology(use but replenish what God has given us), and the way God is reflected in the secular world(how can we not think of God when we look at the oceans or mountains)  we can learn much from studying this branch of Christianity.

Highly recommended.

52 Weeks with Jesus

Author:  James Merritt

First Publication:  December 2014

Publisher:  Harvest House Publishers

Source:  Net Galley

The sub-title tells you everything about this book:  "Fall in love with the One who changed everything".  That alone got me interested in reading it.  It brought back memories of the first time I read Philip Yancey's classic book called "The Jesus I Never Knew".  Even though we might be focused on Jesus everyday of our lives, it is always good to take a fresh, in depth look at various aspects of our savior.

Merritt takes us back to the basics of Jesus.  His meditations are reflections not only on who Jesus is but also how he impacted the author's life and ministry.  Take the upcoming year and spend it getting back in touch with what is the most important relationship a person can have.  

I read the book in a short period of time but plan on re-reading it in depth during 2015.  It will be a book that I return to again in the future.

Highly recommended.  

Praying Through the Names of God

Author:  Tony Evans

First Publication:  September 1, 2014

Publisher:  Harvest House Publishers

Source:  Net Galley

Tony Evans continues to prove why he is one of my favorite authors.  In this book he examines the many different names of God.  

Dr. Evans gives a look into each of the names.  My favorite part of the book, and what makes it different from other books, is he includes prayers.  It gives the reader a chance to see Dr. Evans prayers.  Also included are blank pages for you to journal at the end of each chapter.

If you are struggling with your prayer life, this is a great way to energize it.  Dr. Evans prayers will help you learn how to pray.  And by picking a different name each day it mixes things up and reminds you of the many different ways God presented Himself in the Bible.

Highly recommended.

One Kingdom Under God

Author:  Tony Evans

First Publication:  July 2014

Publisher:  Moody Publishers

Source:  Net Galley

Tony Evans was one of the first authors I started following when I began to read Christian books.  Later I started watching him on television and listening to his podcast.  I did hear him in person once (so far) at a Christian rally.  He is an amazing speaker and author.  Evans always stays focused on God’s Word and I appreciate the chance to read his insights into the Gospel.  This is another classic work of his that I thought would be easier to comment on if I included some excerpts from the book.

1.        ”Everyone has an idea and a viewpoint, but I believe God has spoken and He has not stuttered.  There are two answers to every question:  God’s answer and everyone else’s.  And when they differ, everyone else is wrong.  Thus it befits us to bring our lives under God’s rule and passionately pursue His kingdom.”  I remember reading a comment like this in one of his earlier books and it has stayed with me through the years.  “God has spoken and He has not stuttered” is a good way of keeping at the front of our thoughts the truth of God’s Word.

2.       “While there is nothing necessarily wrong with thoughts and feelings, they shouldn’t be the deciding factors to what is true.  Truth transcends feelings.  For example, you may feel like you have a headache so you take an aspirin.  But the lab report might tell the truth that you have a brain tumor, and an aspirin won’t do any good.  Your head hurting felt real; it just didn’t reveal the truth.  When you miss the truth, you miss everything.  Likewise, when you miss the truth of God’s Word, you miss the kingdom.”  Many people try to put their feeling ahead of the truth.  We want to see the best in people so we won’t admit other’s shortcomings.  It is also very true concerning our own problems.  We try to justify our actions because they feel right.  Dr. Evans reminds us that our feelings are wrong unless they are aligned with God’s Word.

3.       “One of the reasons we often don’t live in light of this truth is because we confuse the terms “power” and “authority”.  For example, on the football field the players are bigger and stronger-more powerful-than the referees.  The referees are older, smaller, and more out of shape than the players.  The players can knock you down-power.  But the referees can put you out-authority.  Satan has power, but the only way he is free to use that power over the lives of individuals, families, churches, or even the broader society is the failure to operate from under the rightful headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Satan does not have the authority to use his power when men function under the covenantal covering of Jesus Christ.”  How easy it is to confuse power and authority.  The world tries to convince everyone that power is more important.  Dr. Evans goes back to his football days (as a chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys) for this example.  Even if you do not like football, I believe most people will understand this message.  Too often we get lured into believing that Satan’s power is the strongest force on Earth.  This explanation reminds us that God’s authority is the supreme power that trumps Satan’s power.

4.       “But the truth and power of God’s Word can be nullified in your experience if you refuse to let the Word speak to you as it is or you start mixing it up with your human viewpoints.  Now please notice I did not say the Bible can lose its power or authority.  That will never happen because God said His Word is “forever settles in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).  But the Bible’s power is blunted in our lives when we do not respond to God in humility and obedience.”  How many times do we see someone we believe to be a Christian go down the wrong path?  It is one of many reasons why we need to stay focused on God’s Word.


“One Kingdom Under God” is a great reminder that we need to keep God at the center of our thoughts and lives.  When our focus is on Him, He keeps us on the right path.

A New Evangelical Manifesto

Author:  David P. Gushee-editor

First Publication:  August 2012

Publisher:  Chalice Press

Source:  Net Galley

Summary:  Being religiously conservative does not necessarily mean being politically conservative. There is a significant, emerging segment of conservatively theological Christians who agree with politically liberal counterparts while staying true to their own faith regarding a wide variety of political issues in contemporary America. 

It is time for a new look at faith and politics in America. It is time for A New Evangelical Manifesto. 

The book, not really a manifesto, is the work of numerous authors with each contributing a chapter.  It is divided into 3 sections.

Section One:  A new kind of evangelical Christianity...
Chapters deal with the church in America today and continue through God's vision.

Section Two:  Leading to holistic love...
This section concerns loving those who don't have a voice in society.

Section Three:  ...and Redemptive  Approaches to Public Life
What is a Christian's response to various hot button subjects (global warming, death penalty, consumerism, etc.)

While I might not agree with every writer in this collection, it is a very worthwhile book to read.  I would find it to be a good study guide for a small group.  The group could read the chapter ahead of time and discuss their responses to the authors.  Even though everyone might not agree on the conclusions, everyone does need to prayerfully consider all of the subjects addressed in this book.

Recommended.

Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung

Subtitle:  Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me

Source:  NetGalley

After reading and loving his previous book, I decided that I needed to read more of Kevin DeYoung's books.  When I saw that this one was available for review it jumped to the top of my to be read stack.  Like many people, I have certain authors that I pick up and read everything they write.  Included in that group is Philip Yancey and Max Lucado.  Now Kevin DeYoung has joined the list of my favorite authors.

DeYoung's award winning previous book, "Crazy Busy", was very good and I found this to be another good book.  The author has a gift for reminding us of the basics of our Christian faith.  In "Crazy Busy", he helped the reader to remember that Satan can use every thing (work, family, hobbies, even the church) to keep us busy and distracted from our walk with the Lord.  "Taking God at His Word" is a great book for a young Christian to see what God's word really means.  And it is a good reminder for long time Christians to keep us focused on the truth of God's word. 

Read this book and fall in love with God's word all over again.

The Storytelling God by Jared C. Wilson

Subtitled:  Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Parables

Some of my favorite, and most memorable, times are when you hear a great storyteller craft a yarn. Time seems to fly by as you hang on every word.  Often you might not know where the story will go next.  Although I have known many good storytellers, none were better than Jesus.  He used parables to tell stories that anyone could relate to and think they understand.  Most of the time i believe the message did not occur to the listeners until after he was finished.

Jared C. Wilson demonstrates how Jesus not only used the parables to explain morals but, like all of the Bible, how they lead us to Christ.

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

The parables give us a direct portal to the kingdom of God being done on earth as it is in heaven.

The parables, as the wisdom of God, are aimed not only at the mind but also at the heart.

I would recommend that you follow the author as he takes a fresh look at the parables.  Maybe he will open your eyes to something that has been in front of you all along.

The Truest Thing About You by David Lomas & D. R. Jacobsen

From Amazon:  There are many true things about you—true things you use to build an identity. Parent. Introvert. Victim. Student. Extrovert. Entrepreneur. Single.

These truths can identify you, your successes and failures, your expectations and disappointments, your secret dreams and hidden shames. But what if your true identity isn't found in any of these smaller truths, but in the grand truth of who God says you are? In other words, lots of things are true about you—but are they the truest? 

David Lomas invites you to discover and live out the truth of who God created you to be: you are loved, you are accepted, and you are made in God's image. It's time to move beyond the lesser voices and discover why everything changes when you become who you really are.

Throughout history, mankind has struggled to determine its identity.  Over time, people have identified themselves by what they do, which family they belong to, who they are married to, how much money they have, and too many other ways of making them stand out.  But is this the way a Christian should go about it?

Satan tries to make us focus on our identity as the way the world sees us. The group Big Tent Revival sang a great song called "Two Sets of Jones" that demonstrates the difference between a worldly and a Christian viewpoint.  The song shows what happens to two families named Jones when they have children.  If you have not heard it, look it up and listen to it as a reminder of what this book is all about.   

The authors of this book showcase a similar theme.  Too often we are caught up in Satan's lies as to what our identity really is.  Lomas and Jacobsen use a very reader friendly method of demonstrating the way the Gospels show us the different way Christ looks at us.  Just like when Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, when we keep our eyes on Jesus life is the way it should be.  When we start looking at all of the turmoil around us and what the world says, our identity suffers.

Highly recommended. 

Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung

I had never read any of Kevin DeYoung's books but when I had the chance to read a short book about being busy, I thought it was a good time to try one.

The author lets you know that he kept this book short because we are all busy.  In today's world it is easy to get wrapped up in both work and our personal lives.  The main question is what are we busy doing?

I did not read anything groundbreaking but he does an excellent job of reminding us to make God number one in our lives.  One of Satan's best traps today is to make us feel we have to do everything.  It is easy to be pulled into being a "Martha".  We want to be everything to everyone.  DeYoung reminds us that God is the only one who can be everything.

I highly recommend this book to everyone even if you don't think you have a problem with business.  DeYoung explains what the Bible says about it and what we need to do as Christians.  I know I will be re-reading this on a regular basis.