BOOK REVIEWS
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State
Missionary Rick Lance is executive director of the Alabama Baptist State
Board of Missions. |
Other Recent Blog Entries:
The Caleb Spirit in 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
In my mind, Caleb is the Barnabas of the Old
Testament. When others seemed to lose hope, he offered encouragement to them.
A Year to Remember
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
This can be the most wonderful time of the year if we
allow the Christ of Christmas to guide us through the experience. Rather than
being caught up in the routined frenzy of long lines at stores shopping for
gifts and the endless social gatherings during the season, we can focus on what
is called the Advent.
The Most Wonderful Time
of the Year
Thursday, December 8, 2011
This can be the most wonderful time of the year if we
allow the Christ of Christmas to guide us through the experience. Rather than
being caught up in the routined frenzy of long lines at stores shopping for
gifts and the endless social gatherings during the season, we can focus on what
is called the Advent.
Finishing
Strong
Monday, November 21, 2011
I do not pretend to be a football coach, but I do
believe this "sports experience" translates into our everyday lives, most
notably in our Christian lives. There are times when we have seemingly given our
all and we feel spent, emotionally, physically and even spiritually.
Be
Encouraged!
Thursday, October 28, 2011
In periods of history like the one we now face,
Christians have often done some of their most effective service for Christ. But
in order to be an effective servant, we must find our source of encouragement in
the face of these discouraging situations.
SBC
Today: An Interview
Thursday, October 16, 2011
Managing ourselves means more than controlling the
calendar, staying morally and ethically pure, reading the latest books, keeping
family time balanced, and running things smoothly in one's ministry. I am
convinced this means staying in touch with Lord and with yourself in such a way
that you make the right decisions and lead in the right direction.
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Have you read any good books lately? That is a
question I love to pose to friends and colleagues. Their answers stimulate me to
add another book or two to my reading list. Allow me the opportunity to share
some recommended reading.
Two pastors have teamed up to
write a timely book concerning the challenges the evangelical church faces in
this changing culture. Jay Dennis, pastor in Lakeland, Florida, and veteran
pastor Jim Henry have shared their insights in
Dangerous
Intersections. This work spotlights the 11 crucial crossroads facing the
church in America. Interestingly, both pastors – one representing the younger
generation of pastors and the other, Jim Henry, giving the voice of the more
experienced pastors who saw all the transformations of society in the late 20th
century – agree on the crucial challenges that presently confront the church of
today. This kind of collaboration is needed so that the differences between
generations can melt away in the face of these critical crossroads. Yes, this is
a good, practical book for pastors and lay leaders alike. It will help you find
your way at the crossroads where churches must make crucial decisions.
C. S. Lewis: Creator of Narnia,
by Sam Wellman, is yet another biographical treatment of the life of this famous
apologist and Christian thinker. As biographies generally go, this account is
brief but thorough in scope. The marriage with Joy Davidman was treated in only
two chapters. An overview of the plethora of writings by C. S. Lewis is
reasonably covered in terms of content and chronology.
For those who want to better
understand the often referenced and quoted author will find this a welcomed
addition to one's library. Wellman has done a very good job of introducing this
giant of Christian thought to the general public.
Rarely do I see a book that
has such an eye-catching title as
Evangelism for the Tongue-Tied,
by Chap Bettis. This book was sent to me by a longtime friend, Ed Massey. Ed was
Chap's pastor when he was growing up in Alabama.
Chap Bettis has done everyone
interested in evangelism a favor by writing a book with the more timid among us
in mind. The focus of this work on personal evangelism is relational in nature.
The author has rightly
concluded that the secular culture has in many ways intimidated Christians into
becoming “tongue-tied” about the gospel message.
When Chap Bettis left Alabama
as a young man he went to Brown University. Following his graduation he answered
the call to ministry and since 1991 has served as the teaching pastor with
Lincoln Christian Fellowship in the Northeast. Therefore, Chap knows first-hand
the challenge of reaching people who are hard to reach.
This book would be a good
resource for ministers and lay people as they share the gospel. It is published
by Pleasant Word and may be found in some local Christian bookstores in Alabama.
Erich Bridges and Jerry Rankin have
collaborated in writing a touching account of the lives and deaths of
missionaries who have given their lives in service to our Lord. The book is
aptly titled
Lives
Given, Not Taken: 21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs book. One detailed chapter is
devoted to the story of Martha Myers of Alabama. These testimonies of our
missionaries will encourage and inspire anyone who takes the Great Commission
seriously. It would be especially good reading for the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering season.
This article by Rick Lance was originally
published in the August 2005 edition of 'FOCUS on One Mission', a monthly
supplement to The
Alabama Baptist newspaper.
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