Book Reviews from Around the World

By Rick Warren

So it’s been quite some time since I’ve written a review for this blog. The question must be asked, “Danny, since you became a youth pastor, have you stopped reading books?” No, my friends. But I have slowed down in the reading department since moving to Idaho and running the youth and worship departments here at Family Life Church. I have continued to read but I’ve felt pretty disappointed with the books I’ve tackled since moving over here. I read Bill Hybels Walk Across the Room but was pretty bored by its simplicity and couldn’t finish it. I then read Doug Fields First Two Years in Youth Ministry – which Jamie reviewed. I didn’t like that one either and didn’t make it to the end. Another book I was disappointed in was The Power of an Hour by Dave Lakhani. I did read the entire book for this one but was so disengaged while reading it that I had nothing constructive to say at all.

Then came along Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods. I reviewed this book because our church is considering using it for curriculum in our School of Excellence that starts this fall. After being so frustrated with the books I’ve chosen lately, this book was a delight. I read the book in a week – which is pretty fast for my current schedule.

This book is a “how to” book on studying your bible. The thing that Rick Warren brings to all of his writings is incredible clarity. He's got an amazing gift in this area and this book’s strength is it's clarity. Warren takes bible study out of the realm of the scholar and the pastor and into the realm of the every day Christian who wants to know the Lord better. He puts major emphasis on practical application of study, contending that the purpose of bible study is not spiritual knowledge, but life change. I was really happy to see this emphasis in the book.

Warren takes the reader through 12 simple ways to study the Bible and lays out a pattern to work through for each method. He walks you step by step through each method and makes even the most in depth methods seem very doable for the average Christian. I really appreciated how this book made studying your Bible totally within reach. You get that “I can do this” feeling while reading the book and following Warren’s examples. He finishes the book by laying out an extensive four year Bible study plan that uses all of the methods throughout the years. If you were to follow his plan over four years you would really make some ground in study. I think one of the things that holds people back from bible study is a lack of practice. Warren presents a plan that would allow a student of the Word to practice 12 methods and become proficient at them all.

I would highly recommend this book to any Christian that wants help in bible study. If you’re already proficient in bible study, it’s still worth reading and would be a great book to use in mentoring a younger believer. I’m going to recommend that our church go with this book in training our young people to study the Bible. It’s simple, clear, and heavy on the practical, life-change application. Way to go Rick Warren. Thanks for drawing people to the truth of God’s Word.

By Ron Luce

Battle Cry for a Generation is a book about the youth culture in America today. It’s a call to arms, a war cry to all who will hear it’s message. Luce calls to his readers, “Take responsibility for the next generation!” The church in America has stood idly by as the largest generation on this planet has forsaken God and His Word. This book is a call to turn the tide in this generation against insurmountable odds.

Luce dissects the enemies this generation is facing, pointing some pretty direct fingers at Hollywood, MTV, and the secular music industry. Luce calls them out for making millions of dollars by defiling the souls of America’s youth. He points out that this generation is facing some of the most intense challenges in all of history with marital breakdown, point and click porn on the internet, violence and rape at an all time high, and an onslaught of media which makes these things seem normal.

This book didn’t really contain any mind-blowing revelation – but it was pretty startling just taking an accurate look at where our nation is headed if we stay on the same path. There is a desperate need for people from all walks of life to begin to reach the next generation with the message of the cross. I remember hearing Ron Luce preach this message one time – I felt compelled to enter the ministry as a youth pastor after having him lay out such a clear and vital need. I never thought it would really happen but 4 months later, here I am in Nampa, ID – a youth pastor. Amen, Ron. God must be listening to your battle cry. I have enlisted in the army.

Great book. Pick up a copy, read it, then give it to your senior pastor to read.

By Elmer L Towns

I picked up this book because I’m stepping up in the area of fasting in my life. The role that God has asked me to fill in this season of life is going to take supernatural help. He knows I’m not the natural youth pastor. I need His help in relating to young people and leading them to Christ. I was looking for some inspiration in fasting and maybe some fresh revelation on fasting scriptures.

This book was written in 2002 by Elmer Towns and I’m guessing he’s in his 70’s or 80’s. It’s a book written from years of experience in fasting and prayer. It didn’t really contain any teaching on fasting. Rather it was filled with analogies (some based on scripture, some not) that made the whole fasting process understandable and meaningful. I read many of its pages while fasting and it was very encouraging to me. If you going to read this one - I suggest fasting while you read it.

The writing is a little slow and old fashioned. I got that “I’m listening to a grandpa” feeling while reading this book. But this is a wise grandpa for sure. The purpose of the book is more experiential than teaching for sure. Towns wants you to experience and know the God he has come to know through prayer and fasting. It’s filled with little one liner prayers to pray (in hopes that you’ll pray while you read).

Knowing God Through Fasting wasn’t the most interesting book I’ve read. But it did stir me in my relationship with God and my fasting life. We could all use some more encouragement in our fasting and reading a fasting book every once in a while is a good discipline. I probably won’t read this book again, but it is worth reading through one time while you’re fasting. It really helps establish your thoughts on God while fasting. I give it a B.

By Marcus Buckingham

Every once in a while I’ll throw a secular book on leadership into my reading mix. The One Thing You Need to Know was the choice this time around. Marcus Buckingham worked for the Gallup organization for years meeting with and interviewing some of the most successful people in society. This book is a compilation of his main insights concerning management, leadership and sustained individual success.

His title comes from the idea that there is one controlling insight behind everything in life. Like if you boil everything down to the one main reason people succeed or fail at something – this would be the one thing you need to know. I’m not sure if I’m really on board with this way of thinking…seems a little over simplified to me. But the book was pretty interesting and it did get to some root issues in life.

His main thought about management was to find what makes the people you manage unique and capitalize on their strengths. He told many stories of businesses and managers that succeed by paying close attention to their employees. He stressed that if you as a manager can order your organization around the strengths of your people, you will run a much stronger organization. Seems obvious (as does most of his bottom line answers), but its amazing how many examples you can think where this is not done well.

The leadership section of the book was pretty entertaining. The key to success in leadership? – Clarity. If you can provide a clear picture of exactly where your organization is going, you have a much easier time motivating the people going with you toward that place. Instead of looking at everyone’s individual strengths, leadership focuses on the commonalities in people and leverages them into movement toward a common future. Where management focuses entirely on the people, leadership’s focus is the vision itself. Portraying the vision with absolute clarity is Buckingham’s “One Thing” about leadership.

Lastly, there is sustained personal success. Buckingham defines success as having the most impact in an area for the most prolonged period of time. I liked that definition as it really works across a wide spectrum of viewpoints. When Buckingham studied the most successful people he could find, the key insight he found was really interesting. It was “find out what you don’t like doing and stop doing it.” Sounds funny but it’s actually good advice. If you spend your life doing stuff that bores, drains, and frustrates you, you sure aren’t set up for great success. Buckingham gave a strong argument for doing what you love to do day in and day out. He pointed out that this kind of life will bring you motivation and provide the sustained energy needed to make a large impact over a long period of time.

Overall, I thought this was a good read. I found myself distrusting a lot of its concepts due to the books secular nature, but in general I agree with his bottom lines. I’m not really sure that it’s all you need for success (in fact I’m sure its not), but I liked reading about Buckingham’s research and agree with many of his conclusions. I probably wouldn’t read this book again, but would recommend it for business leaders or people working in the business world.

By Hayley DiMarco

I know, I know, my reading level is getting lower. Apparently DiMarco's books are the newest Christian teenage frenzy, so I thought that I should check it out. And I am glad that I did!
This book is addressing teenage girls and their sexuality, or rather what they do with their sexuality. DiMarco definitely calls it as it is and isn't afraid to get in some faces. She draws a line in the sand between what the world is dressing like and what the church should be dressing like. I don't know that I have ever heard such a clear message on what women are called to as the Body of Christ in how they present their bodies.
DiMarco adapts the style of the book to the culture she is addressing, so the book reads like a magazine with interactive studies along the way. I loved her use of Scripture and real life examples that brought her points home. She doesn't leave guessing room to figure out exactly what she is addressing in the fashion trends running rampant in the church as well as the world.
I learned a thing or two about the teenage world that I was absolutely clueless about and was challenged on my own philosophies regarding how women dress in the church. My only reservation with the book was the harsh tone that often came across in the teaching. However that is probably just a philosophy difference. The teaching is also heavy on women's role in guarding men from sexual immorality rather than a balance of both sexes being accountable. Then again, she was writing specifically to women though.
For all the women reading this review, you should definitely read this book. Especially if you deal with any type of ministry to other women. I would venture to say that you will be challenged and enlightened by the revelation and information that DiMarco brings to the table. I know that I was. For the guys reading this blog, you should have the women in your life check out this book. =) Sorry, this one's not for you!

First the positives:I think ol' Donny did an excellent job of reminding the church of our first and most critically important assignment (after loving the Lord our God with everything): love your neighbor as yourself. He reminds and challenges us to get in to the community and do practical ministry. He teaches us how to love with no strings attached. He shows that we lack awareness in politics, social issues, and what everyone else in this country is concerned with. He brings to life many of the thoughts and struggles within the church that people are incapable of putting in to words. In fact, I think the main reason his work is so well received is his gift of writing has people responding, "Yeah, that's how I feel! I couldn't organize my thoughts enough on my own, but he has nailed it on the head." I think it's great when an author can help a reader identify what's going on inside. Also, he is very entertaining and effectively covers many topics without diluting his message.

Now to explain my stamp of "bad theology": A perfect theologian does not exist. I give Mr. Miller much grace and don't slander his name nor his heart. However, we are warned time and time again in scripture to be on guard against bad theology and test all things before permitting them to reside in our minds and hearts. As John Bevere says in "Thus Saith the Lord?", "Teaching establishes us, but warnings protect us! If we are only taught, and the warnings are neglected, we can lose what was established through the ministry of teaching."(p.11) So, their are four main messages that permeate the book cover to cover.

The first is how he explains why he believes in God; more accurately, how he has no explanation for why he believes. His reason for belief in the Almighty is reduced to unexplainable warm fuzzies and this...thingy...that happens in his heart when he thinks about God. What scares me the most about his explanation is that I believe most people jump on board with him because that is the extent of their reason for believing. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." The disciples reason for belief was that they knew Him, that they saw His power manifest, and that they performed His power. Paul's reason was that he encountered a great light and a great voice that blinded him for three days and spoke destiny in to his life. Peter's reason was because of a vision/dream where he encountered God and was given a message to take to the nations. Numerous others believed because they saw the manifest power at work in their lives through healing, deliverance, raising the dead, miraculous provision, etc. How happy Satan must be that the majority of the church has challenged their faith to the extent of warm fuzzies. So a challenge to those who read this: are warm fuzzies the greatest fullness of God you have experienced? Is that the extent you will teach and encourage others to experience as well?Nowhere in scripture are we told to settle for warm fuzzies. That reason for belief is as about as powerful as the waddle of a duck. We have a God who has given us wings.

The second concern I have is in regards to open slander of the bride of Christ. Warning is good. Evaluating is good. Admitting our weaknesses is good. But generalizing and slandering your Church before the entire reading community is far from responsible. It's like shooting your teammates' in the foot and then gossiping to the press that they aren't doing well in practice. And he does this cover to cover. If I let it absorb, I could walk away from this book embarrassed to identify with the faith I signed up for. I could go on with this, but I won't.

The third danger in this book is a overwhelming taste for the lack of the fear of God. His relaxed approach to sin and righteousness permits the lukewarm to continue being puke-able. Call me old fashioned, but irreverence for the commands of God won't keep you saved for very long.

The fourth red flag is what I believe to be the root of the previous three. To put it bluntly, I don't believe him. I don't believe he knows God. I'm not challenging his salvation, nor could I, but rather his intimate place with the Father. I don't believe he has been on his knees. I don't believe his Bible is tired. The more people I meet who truly know God, the more easily it is to identify those who don't. I'm not mad at him for not knowing God. I'm not criticizing his place on his journey. I am simply bringing attention to the necessity to qualify your teachers. It scares me to death to think that a man who does not appear to truly know God can be so influential to those who are trying to. Without true intimacy and pursuit of God Himself, all of the love of others and involvement in the community amounts to nothing. As can be seen with many other ministries, it is barely more than the YMCA or Big Brothers Club wearing a Jesus name tag.

I felt like I finished this book knowing more about Donald Miller than I did about true intimacy with the Father and how to turn that in to visible fruit. I felt as though he were selling his approach to spirituality more than the Bible's approach. Again, it permeates from cover to cover, ever so subtle. I also understand why so many people enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. I grew from it. I was reminded of many things that I was forgetting. It is probably the most enjoyable read I've ever had. I don't look down upon those who hold it as a favorite... at all. Especially those who are theologically sound in pursuing who God is. If that is the case, this book has much to offer.

So why did I finish it? My reason for starting it was to see what food is out there that is pleasing the appetite of the American church. In light of what I found, I am heavily reminded...We have much work to do.

By Doug Fields (Saddleback's youth pastor)

I can honestly say that I have learned a lot from this book. Fields writes from the experience of 23 years in youth ministry and his many stories and illustrations gave me a better picture of what this next season of our life is going to be like as youth pastors. He must have a memory like a steel trap because it seems like he thought of every detail that you could possibly want to know about youth ministry from dealing with student leaders to recruiting a solid team of volunteers.
The chapter that I took the most away from was on how to deal with parents of the students. His insight as a parent and pastor was invaluable, especially for someone who knows practically nothing about teenagers, other than I was one at one point in life. This chapter on working with parents of students alone was worth reading the entire book for. It was a fresh look at youth ministry from the approaches that I have exprienced so far in life.
I didn't agree with everything in this book but it did cause me to think about lots of areas that I hadn't even considered about youth ministry. My discrepancies with the book were minor and not enough to discredit the wealth of insight and stimulated thoughts that I took away from it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone involved in youth ministry or headed in that direction.
Fields propagated his book as the Handbook to youth ministry and while I probably won't keep it on my bookshelf and reread it every year, it was definitely worth reading through at least once. For me, the book sparked thoughts and ideas about how we will operate uniquely inside of youth ministry rather than being a how to manual for youth pastors everywhere.

George Muller's life story is a story of a life lived by faith and not by sight. The book tells of a young German who, more than just doing great things for God, spends a lifetime knowing God and truly living for and with Him. Every miraculous occurance, provision, and worldwide fame in the late 19th century flowed from an intimate relationship with Almighty God.

Muller was an anointed preacher who broke from the traditions of the day and followed wholeheartedly after Jesus. He refused any sort of regular income, and together with his first wife Mary, committed to never ask a single soul for anything, but to lay their requests before God alone, trusting Him to supply their every need. After a number of years full of miraculous provision, the Mullers set out on an endeavor to prove to the world the reality of God - the same yesterday, today and forever. They began an orphan-house (old school orphanage) to care for children and to show that the principle of provision they learned in their private lives would also work for a ministry that would eventually care for thousands of children at a time.

The book shares many detailed stories of God's provision, citing Muller's journals and other witnesses who had a part in the miracles. Many times, the children would come down for lunch with nothing on the table, every resource having been exhausted. They would call upon God, and before the prayer was over, someone would knock on the door with food. These and many other kinds of miraculous provisions incited the world of the 19th century to trust in God for salvation, for everything.

Many insights into the life of the man are presented - principles of prayer, trust in God, faith, etc. But many minute details of little interest must be waded through to find these. I loved the story of George Muller, but I may pick up his autobiography, or a biography written closer to his time. Roger Steer was intrigued by the Muller story and wrote a biography about him, but I don't know that this would be the best one to read.

I think our American pursuit of a great fast paced tale full of miracles on every page (each one greater than the last) leads us to get bored easily of reading about real people who live real lives marked by faith and trust in God. We like to hear crazy things, and deceive ourselves into thinking that we know how to live like that. May we hear and do and live as God desires in our short time here on the planet.

By Ted Haggard

If you are an analytical person like I am, you will love this book. Ted Haggard is an apostle to the church of America and has a healthy, strong church that gives authority to everything he says. Reading his philosophies and convictions about church ministry has been invaluable to me. It has stirred up thought processes and ideas in my mind and heart about the way we do church currently and the way my generation will do church in the future.
My favorite part of this book was how Haggard systematically went through every major area of ministry in the church, explaining how his church has structured that particular area. I grew passionate about each category as I genuinely felt the passion that Haggard feels for it. It was obvious to me that he loves his job as a senior pastor and absolutely loves his staff and congregation.
This book has definitely impacted my thinking about how to structure a church as well as encouraged me to dream about how we can become more like Christ and better serve people through our local churches. If you value hearing from men of God who have been successful in their personal relationship with God as well as in their family and ministry, you cannot pass up this book. It is a little older, written in 2001, but it's message is just as pertinent today as it was 5 years ago. I am convinced after reading this book that the counsel of Ted Haggard can make the difference on whether you simply do ministry or are a minister of the life of God in the lives of the people around you. This one is going on my book shelf as a must read for up and coming leaders after me.

By Dutch Sheets

Praying for America was written and published in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11^th. I thought the book (judging from the title) was going to be Sheet’s strategy for how to pray for America following this crisis. That wasn’t really the focus of the book…in fact it wasn’t really about prayer. Maybe Dutch Sheets has become so well known for Intercessory Prayer and Watchman Prayer that his publishers make him name all of his books about prayer.

This book included some thoughts about prayer for the nation but it definitely was not the focus. Sheets open up with one of his famous word studies on “crossing over” including what it means to be a true Hebrew (in heart). This took about up about half of the book and was really enjoyable. After finishing this portion of the book, I decided that Sheets will forever be one of my most respected Bible teachers. He is so good at exploring the Greek and Hebrew and finding revelation that we can apply to our lives.

The word study was followed by a great chapter on true repentance. This was my favorite chapter in the book. He talked about how repentance is more than turning and going another direction. He taught about a three step process – revelation (seeing your life from the divine perspective), repentance (changing your mind to join God’s mind), and turning (living differently based on the first two steps taking place). It was a great teaching – one that I’ll reference in teaching on repentance in the future.

The last 5 chapters of the book were spent railing on problems that Sheets sees in the charismatic and Jesus people movements of the last 20 years. His criticism was given in love and from a position of authority (saved in the Jesus people movement, he pastors a charismatic church). He didn’t point fingers at individual ministries or anything…just overall problems he sees in the church of America that he believes God is endeavoring to correct. He had great revelation from the scriptures to go along with each problem he sees in the church. It was some of the best confrontational writing about the state of the church that I’ve read – it didn’t come across bitter yet carried a strong message. Maybe it came across so well because it’s a prophetic word from God to His church. I’ll take it as such.

Bottom line – this is not a teaching book about prayer. But it is a prophetic word to the church of America and would be worth reading even if you’re called to build the church in another nation. I’ll give it 4.5 stars and recommend it to all.