Wake Up, America!

It is Dangerous to Be Right When the Government is Wrong

Andrew Napolitano

Judge Napolitano’s basic views are well known because of his role with Fox News.  It doesn’t take long to realize his anti-big government views.  While this book is not a religious book per se, the underlying principles to which Napolitano subscribed are decidedly biblical. 

The Judge’s critics, including compassionate Christians, sometimes decry the position that mitigates the government’s role in social welfare.  But he is correct that it is not the government’s responsibility to dole out to the needy.  That responsibility is clearly delineated in scripture to belong to families and churches.  Government seems to invade any vacuum created when responsible parties abdicate their assignments. 

I continue to see the overreach of all branches of government.  The rapid growth of government over the past few decades is frightening and is a great contributor to the social and economic woes we experience in our current culture.

Our nation is sliding down the slippery slope created by an overspending government.  Those who speak out against the wrongs in our government will increasingly be targeted for censure or destruction.  I have personally witnessed an abusive government multiple times and seeing the trend to become worse.

I strongly recommend this book and hope that Napolitano continues to warn this nation about evils created by an immoral and bloated government.

I Am a Follower

Leonard Sweet

Leonard has challenged the status quo thinking regarding leadership.  In so doing, he moves us away from the secular thinking of our time and back to the philosophies of scripture.  Using Jesus’ claim that He was the “way, truth, and life” Leonard builds a case for counter culture living.

While many of Sweet’s prior writings have focused on current practices within the church, this book is a significant departure from those theoretical foundations.  I’m not sure if he has experienced some new breakthrough in his understanding of the nature of Christ, but this book affirmed my spirit more than all his other books put together.

I have for a long time had a discomfort with the emphasis on “strengths,” whether in personality traits or in particular talents.  While various methodologies might help someone become “successful” when measured quantitatively, God more often uses our weaknesses to impart grace.  After all, grace is the power that transforms us.

Leonard has truly struck a new (rediscovered old) chord in rephrasing Paul’s injunction, “Follow me as I follow……….”  This book cannot be read lightly, but its alignment with the scriptural message “to follow” is quite convicting.  I trust the church will heed the message and emphasize anew Jesus’ requirement to “follow Him.”

Sun Stand Still

Sun Stand Still

Steven Furtick

The book Sun Stand Still presents several contrasts to me.  Steven is to be admired for being a man of incredible action, and the results that God has accomplished through him is a powerful testimony to the faith of which he writes. 

His terminology such as the word audacious seems to be borrowed from current business culture, and at times the philosophy seems to mirror it.  Sometimes I had the feeling that I was reading the brashness of youth.  Nevertheless he balanced the boldness of believing with other biblical concepts of discovering God’s will before launching a faith attack.

He also dealt with the issue that God’s does not always give us prosperity and success.  God sometimes uses difficulties to get more glory to Himself.

But the ultimate message that he gives asking Christian to live a life of faith is not only timely, but desperately needed for our time when we encounter so much mundane and faithless lives.  Churches and their constituents too often live only by what they can see and touch, not by faith.  This book will cause you to re-evaluate your FQ (faith quotient)!

Ascent From Darkness

This book is a first-person account of one man’s spiritual journey from the depths of an evil heart to one of great redemption.  While it does not qualify as great literary writing, the agony of spirit that Michael Leehan experienced is fully described.

The book was somewhat of a difficult read because it took over 200 pages to discuss the darkness in his life, and about 25 pages were devoted to the conversion.  It just seemed a little out of balance for me.  The book was a clear illustration of what can happen when someone rejects the grace of God.  While Mike did encounter many disappointments as a child, I’ve heard far worse stories of abuse, neglect, and rejection.  Others were able to accept the grace of God to overcome those challenges much sooner.

I rejoice that Mike did eventually respond to the gospel and I sincerely pray that the last half of his life is not only productive for God, but with a heart of joy.  Many do need to have this kind of hope instilled in them if they have struggled with addictions and obsessions.  Satan’s grip might be difficult to break, but God always can and will if we allow Him to do so.

Discovering Leadership at All Levels

A review of John Maxwell’s “The 360 Leader”

The general nature of our culture is to grant too much credence to those in positions of leadership.  While Maxwell’s maxims are applicable to the business environment, they are more needed in the church.  People in the pew often do not see their importance and defer to the supposed wisdom of the designated leader, when God can grant every person a significant amount of wisdom.  The church functions best when there is collective wisdom, and everyone is valued for their contribution.

The scope of leadership is determined by the depth of character, and Maxwell encourages those in the middle or lower echelons of organizations to develop their leadership qualities.  No entity can be their best without leadership being exercised at every level.  The biblical principle of giving first, before receiving, certainly applies in the Kingdom. 

I’ve known John, as well as family members, and that allows me to evaluate this author on a different plane.  John’s teachings were hammered out in real life in his various ministry assignments.  While the book seems to be wordy at times, the basic message needs repeating and reliving over and over.  Regardless of where one is in his/her development, this book will add value to your thinking and your life.

Adoptive Love

In reviewing Jennifer Grant’s book, Love You More, I was reminded of the decision my wife and I made forty-one years ago.  In 1970, there were virtually no cross-cultural adoptions, whereas they are fairly commonplace now.  For us it was adopting a bi-racial girl following the decade of racial unrest in this country.  Our experience was different from the Grants because we adopted first, then had three daughters born to us.  So the younger girls always had a big sister and they grew up without considering that she was different.

Jennifer is transparent in her feelings as she moved through the process of deciding to adopt, and then going through the agonizing wait.  Our experience was very different because we never applied for adoption.  We were simply presented with an opportunity by a county case worker, and we made the decision the next day, and a week later we became parents.

The yuppie lifestyle that the Grants lived before their adoption experience stood in stark contrast to life little Mia lived in Guatemala.  Their experience confirms what most parents realize that children are very resilient in adapting to loving homes.  We have had many friends adopting from other countries such as Guatemala, China, and Eastern Europe.  Recently my nephew and his wife adopted a little boy from the Congo.  Their experience paralleled the Grants.  I affirm that there is a “divine surprise of adopting my daughter.”  Forty one years after the fact, my wife and I would do it again—without hesitation.

Revival's Golden Key

Ray Comfort shares with us the explosive growth of the Christian church in the world particularly over the past two decades.  He also points to research showing the growth of those who claim to be Christians here in America.  Then he highlights the inconsistency with the commands of Christ.  There are those who claim to be Christian who:  practice genocide among other tribes, who have abortions performed, who divorce and remarry at the same rates as non-Christians, who lie, cheat and steal regularly.  Of those who claim to come to Christ, many do not change their behavior or attitudes.

What is the cause of this inconsistency?  One underlying factor is the method of evangelism.  “We are so entrenched in traditional evangelism that we don’t equate real life with the message we preach.”  When the “gospel” is presented simply as God has a better option for your life, most come looking only for the benefits that they can derive.  They don’t come repenting with a deep sorrow.  Therefore, their experience is short-lived.  The call from Christ was to “suffer” not to find it easy.  If the “abundant life” that Jesus promised is not necessarily a “happy” life, why will people respond to the gospel?

The author points out the necessity of presenting the law in beginning a gospel message.  The Apostle Paul describes the law as our “schoolmaster.”  The law then awakens our conscience to our sinfulness.  Then the grace of God is truly good news, because we learn there is a remedy for our sinfulness.

The real message of the gospel is not that trusting in Christ will keep us from hell.  The real message is that Christ’s atoning work can transform our heart and make us righteous.  Only the grace of God can do this!

Evangelism needs to take a different approach.  We are not to be concerned with the number of converts as we are with the quality.  Analysis of most crusades or evangelistic campaigns shows that 95% of those who “make decisions” do not follow through on their decision; Ray Comfort calls them “false conversions.”

Comfort shares with us that “virtually every revival has been birthed out of a great awakening of those who thought they were saved, but were not.  He instructs us that “the cross should be raised at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church.”

If you have an interest in seeing a mighty move of God, this book will definitely help you in your understanding of what you need to do.