Although I am not a pastor or church planter I have spent time in denominations of many sizes and have recognized trends and/or bad practices that start the downward spiral of a churches existence.

Reading this book I feel more ‘equipped’ to recognize the importance of helping to turn this spiral around.  Pastors need not feel the burden of this by themselves.  They may be the catalyst of change, but the ‘body’ must bare responsibility as well.

Some of the points in the book I like:

• The Truth (Bible) is compared to water, over the years the water has had many improvements to its delivery system…bucket in the well, hand pump, and now fancy touch faucets.  The water hasn’t changed but the delivery system has, it has become more relevant, progressing as times have changed.
• Making the church culturally relevant DOES NOT mean the Truth is watered down…it is delivered in more modern forms such as:  current music styles, social media (pod-casts, online video, interactive forums…) — having events, missions, and activities that are related to current events.
• Heritage and tradition can be important but it must not get in the way of delivering the Truth…Although we must also think about how change can dilute the Truth.  Keep some of the old with some of the new there can be compromise with the ‘delivery’ but not with the Truth itself.  (for example:  we can have both hymns, psalms, & contemporary praise/worship in service)

There are many other personal accounts of change and examples of techniques that Brad has used, but overall this would not be a manual on how to change your own church…But more of a ‘brainstorm’ to help you see and create ideas that would be relevant to your body of believers.

Reading the Word/Truth from the big leather bound ‘coffee table style’ Bible from your grandfather delivers THE SAME truth as reading it from your Iphone or Ipad.

I think the BIG difference in Brad’s success was ENDURANCE, he stuck it out.  Brad worked his way through the grudges, board members, failures, disciplinary situations, and growing pains in order to see just the small bit of success years after the implementation process started.

(This book was provided to me free from Thomas Nelson.  I was not required to write a positive review.)

Jordan Kirkwood wants to go quietly into the sunset. His career as an NSA intelligence officer has taken a significant toll. His two adult children are little more than distant acquaintances. His wife has been patient and supportive, but he knows she has deserved better. That was part of the reason they were going to London. He wanted her to see Europe like a tourist. But that was before he was given intelligence information during the recent mission to Germany. The threat is grave—bigger than 9/11. And the risk is compounded by the fact that someone inside the NSA is involved. The most hidden place in Kirkwood’s past will have to be unmasked to meet the challenges of this mission.

I enjoyed this book and felt it was an exciting and easy read. I enjoy ‘Christian’ fiction from time to time but often feel its written to ‘save’ the lost people who read it, although most people who read Christian fiction are already ‘saved’. This book DID NOT take that route, and for that I am glad.

Jordan is a man whose family life has slowly been replaced by his consuming job. Unfortunately this realization was ‘to little, to late’ as a tragic attack changes everything. Jordan’s past resurfaces as his problems increase. His ‘religion’ has drifted away from the Christian standards he was raised with, now struggling with how it has a place in his life and job.

I hope that Jerry (the author) has re-wrote this book to bring a sequel or series from it. Developing more background for the characters and maybe even bring some ‘prequel’ stories into play.

Good book…Develop this book into a great series and I will bump it up to excellent!

(This book provided for review by Tyndale House Publishers.)

Tytus weighed 16 pounds 8 ounces and is now 26 inches long. He sleeps through the night and generally is a happy baby. Yesterday after his shots I took him home, fed him, and he took a long nap. Tytus was pretty much fussy the rest of the day, but that was to be expected. You know how you may have gotten shots in the past and later the muscle, arm, or leg was hurting a dull pain? I am sure Tytus was feeling that…But as for the shots he only screamed in the beginning and quit crying within the next two minutes. He had three shots and one oral application so there was two round band-aids on one leg (the fatty thigh part) and one on the other. But he was pretty happy after that…I had him in the baby bjorn facing front for the ‘event’. He has a first hand experience for everything! He is quite happy with the baby Bjorn he gets fussy with too much time in the car seat. So besides the shots I experienced no crying and everything went well, they even gave him the shots while he was still attached to me in the Bjorn!

On the videos page I added two new videos of Tytus: Tytus & Bumbo Seat and Tytus Cam (both are just a couple of minutes).

Stephanie was at home sleeping after a 12 hour 3rd shift at the hospital. I wonder why all my appointments with Tytus involve shots???

“Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people.”

I took psychology class in college a long time ago but I still struggled with the good doctors “layman’s” terms.  I understand the concept of what he was trying to say but I found the first half of the book to be very repetitive and drawn out.  It was painfully slow to read because I was having a hard time staying interested.  While weaving in and out with attachment issue studies, how to ‘rewire’ your brain to adjust or renew to ‘heal’ these neuro routes that have been paved, and briefly tying in the Christian aspect of it I was able to gain some speed reading the case or people studies…Those were interesting.

Parts of this book were very enlightening but there was a lot to wade through.  I also feel that some of the scripture were taken out of context and some of the theology used was not correct, or faulty.

My suggestion is to thumb to the back and read the Epilogue first…after that you will probably know if this is a book you will enjoy.  Personally I don’t recommend reading it unless neuroscience is a high interest to you.

(This book was provided for review by Tyndale House Publishers.)

...this is how we roll!

Maddy!

[My suggestions as a new dad are just my opinion!  And it relates to MY situation.  I have no expertise except for the training I am getting now! -(other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own)-]

I first want to explain the last part of my disclaimer: other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own. What I mean by that is:  I have babysat/watched other babies from friends and family, changed diapers, fed, etcetera…but its different when its your own.  Yes, that cliche is true.  But you can still learn from other people and their babies like my next tip/opinion.  I learned this experience from one picture posted on facebook by friends & new parents Reuben & Chaylah.  Their daughter Maddy was born before our son Tytus so I had fun watching their facebook status and pictures posted knowing I was ‘next’.

One picture would do it, but they posted 3 pictures titled “Tales of Puke” in which we find Reuben with a ‘Bulls-eye’ or Dad’s eye full of a ‘feeding’. Yep, ewe, gross.  I prefer to call this ‘Tossing Cookies”.

From the picture I see that I may want to rethink holding Tytus over my face if playing on the ground, sitting straight up and/or standing .  Our (not mine anymore) tendency is to hold our child over us when we are playing with him or maybe jiggling him to a tune or some noises.

What I understand from my own son is that no matter how well you burp him, the amount you feed him, and/or how long its been since his last feeding…he can still toss his cookies at any time.  Most babies (I have experienced) are like this.  It can be from excitement, over-stimulation, too much jostling (like tossing your kid in the air or tickling) and just plain gas.  Fortunately for us, Tytus rarely ever tosses his cookies but its nice to be prepared.

You have been warned!  Thanks for the laughs and the lesson Reuben & Chaylah!

[In my first installment of my suggestions as a new dad its just my opinion!  And it relates to MY situation.  I have no expertise except for the training I am getting now! -(other peoples babies do not count as experience for your own)-]

First thing in the morning when I wake up, do I hear the baby crying? No? Well then I start the coffee and jump in the shower before anything changes!

This especially applies if YOU are the current Mr. MOM…But it doesn’t matter whether your wife, babysitter, or nanny is there because they will probably have some things they will need you to do if you are going to be sticking around once the baby does awake, or start crying because he/she will NEED someone’s full attention!

If your not a coffee person you probably will be soon.  If not, get the shower first!

Its nice to be refreshed with a little caffeine in you when you get the ‘do list’.  Daddy do this, daddy do that…

John Eldridge uses theology, stories, and life experiences (you don’t need to be an outdoors man to relate) to explain that men need to be ‘Wild at Heart’ AND to give men the permission to do so!

It started good, got a little repetitive with examples and anecdotes towards the middle, but finished up nicely.

I recommend the book whether you like his theology or not.  This book gives a good go at putting masculinity back in being a Christian man.  Wild at Heart is not in the traditional ‘self help’ writing, but really encourages us not to be so passive and wishy-washy in this day and age of Christian men being ‘tolerant’ of so much.  Most churches have reduced mans goal to being a ‘really nice guy’… that doesn’t really sound like the men in this verse, does it?

Mt 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (NIV)

Revised and updated?  Not sure it added much to the book but I suppose its nice to have extras when its getting an anniversary reprint.  I find the Daily Prayer in the back repetitive and long.

[Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.]

Francis points out both his own downfalls and weaknesses while also challenging ours expressing it passionately in his writing.  When Francis talks about the everyday things we start filling our lives up with and how we shut out the Holy Spirit and give God our ‘leftovers’ it personally made me feel like saying OUCH!

There are examples in the book of how our love is doing, or not doing justice to our relationship with God and others.  Some may even be considered extreme or provoke a sense of being defensive in the way we live our own lives.

I wanted to get a better ‘feel’ for this author because sometimes they bring up ‘good points’ but are not necessarily believable by the people who present them.  I went online and found some audio & video podcasts from the church he pastors (and started) Cornerstone, in Simi Valley.  I still love listening to his sermons.

The book has an additional website called http://www.crazylovebook.com/ that has introduction videos to each chapter and other ‘enhancements’ that go with the book.

$8.99 on Amazon.com, good price in my opinion!

First, I didn’t read this book trying not to be offended or defending my life by feeling judged by what Shane wrote…I also did not look for a political agenda, or to pick apart his thinking.  A lot of other reviews did.

I read this book to enjoy and learn, hopefully both.

I love the way Shane lives his life according to what he feels Christianity and Jesus is perceived from his viewpoint. I certainly did not agree with everything…and even so, I would have still enjoyed the stories.

Its not a biography (so to speak) but tells a lot of his life, thoughts, and ideas…his struggles with ‘church’ in general. Working with Mother Teresa, Families in Iraq that are just as terrorized from war and terrorism as we are…my review is not to recount the whole book to you but tell you that I think this book is good and worth buying.

I guess if you are not one for religion, or Christianity…then maybe you will not enjoy it…but then again maybe it will speak to those of you who are trying to find Christians that aren’t the ones that are only Christian in name, social culture, or that’s what you are because your parents were.

Here are a few additional motivations for buying the book besides the great read:

1. It costs about what? 10 or 12 dollars on Amazon.com
2. The sales do not go to him, they are distributed to several other organizations/charities that do great things to help people.