A Bug Collection DVD Box Set

It's been a long time since my kids have watched Hermie and Friends, and I wondered if perhaps it was for a younger crowd. My kids are 6, 7 and 11. The stories are cute and well done and the topics in this set are on getting along, prayer and good behaviour. All three disks kept my kids attention, even the oldest, which was quite a surprise. Afterwards we discussed a few things about the video and laughed at some of the antics.
This is a wonderful series and I'd recommend it to others with kids. I have a feeling the 6 and under crowd would enjoy it the most, but it was entertaining to all, even me.

I received this free from Booksneeze and was not required to write a favorable review.

Mere Churchianity

Wow, Mere Christianity by Michael Spencer is a thought provoking book! I didn't appreciate it's negative tone at times, but it definitely made me think quite a bit.

My favorite part was when he talked about Jesus Fandom vs. Discipleship and Refusing to Sell Out.  Here's an excerpt:

"We've come a to something crucial; something that can't be missed or underestimated in significance. Jesus-shaped spirituality doesn't come in a prepackaged consumer edition. And it doesn't grow out of Christianized consumer culture. The Church sign that promises you success if you'll only sign up, join in, attend, participate, and swear the oath is lying. If you're after Jesus -shaped spirituality, you'll discover that it's difficult to find if you keep looking behind the signs and advertisements for the latest product, experience, personality, and worship event. 

Jesus-shaped spirituality for Bob, myself, you and everyone else comes in one form only - in the form of Jesus as we find him presented in Scripture. Jesus hasn't suddenly forgotten how to make disciples, so we can't blame him for the current situation. It's we who are slow to recognize that the life of a disciple doesn't happen at the circus. 

We may want to treat discipleship like a product and the process of knowing Jesus like buying a new car. You won't experience Jesus-shaped spirituality with that mind-set. 

Like a baseball fan, we may be emotional, devoted, willing to sacrifice, and be excited about the game of Christianity. we might even have tender feelings about Jesus. But we won't experience what Jesus said it means to be  a disciple if we engage in all the activities of a fan but never become ball players. It's time to leave behind the life of of a fan and commit to becoming a player. 

Most of the people who have left the church or are still hanging out in the church but not understanding why, already know these things. When Jesus talks about what disciples do, how they see the world and how they live with other people, we realize we've been misdirected. We've been reading the wrong advertisements. 

We may be thought of as lost, but we aren't that far away from being exactly where we should be. We simply have to admit the three ring circus we're living in isn't Jesus' way of making disciples. Consumer Christianity is not what we see in Scripture. Buying a version of faith is not the approach taken by the Holy Spirit to prod us toward Jesus. None of the Jesus-shaped people in history followed a slick, entertaining, success-driven, celebrity-oriented path of  faith  and discipleship. A road populated by massive churches, loud music, smooth-talking preachers, media, and meetings is not the road to Jesus-shaped spirituality. 

If you need someone to tell you it's okay to feel that way and to be on the outside of all this, then here's my hand. I'm glad to meet you. 

Now it's time to take a look at that other road - the narrow, overgrown, largely rejected one - and see where Jesus - shaped spirituality really takes us."  

pages 195-196

This book is worth reading, whether you agree or not. These concerns should be addressed. 

I received this book free from the publisher, Waterbrook-Multnomah. 

Soul Print by Mark Batterson

I looked forward to getting this book, Soul Print by Mark Batterson, because I've enjoyed the author's other books. This one did not disappoint; though at times it came across as more of a "self help" type of book. Though much of what he says is correct: We were made in God's image and we're unique and God made us special, I still left wondering how much of this comes across as a pep talk? Yet... he's right.

He uses examples fro the Bible and they are engaging stories. This is a pleasant book to read and one leaves feeling challenged but uplifted and encouraged.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books for my honest review. 

The Sacred Journey

I read The Sacred Journey by Charles Foster. The subject of pilgrimage is one that I know very little about, so I was eager to read this book. However, I had a hard time getting into this book. Not sure if it was the subject matter or what. Also there were several statements that made me question, but I guess that's what this book was designed to do: Make one think for themselves.

If you are interested in this subject, you might enjoy this book, but if the thought of pilgrimage doesn't excite you, I doubt you'll enjoy this book.

I received this book for review purposes from Book Sneeze and the publisher Thomas Nelson. I was not required to post a favourable review.

Soulprint

Soulprint by Mark Batterson is a book about identity, self-discovery and a journey of figuring out who you are in Christ  and being fulfilled.

In this book he uses several examples from Scripture. It is a very encouraging book, exhorting the reader to remember our uniqueness and how we are the image of God. Though it states clearly this is not a "self help book" at times if feels that way mostly because it encourages and advocates life change.

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more books by Mark Batterson. His writing style is concise and quite enjoyable.

Note: Per the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Fasting: The Ancient Practices Series

I was so excited to read Scot Mcknight's Fasting: The Ancient Practices Series. I've heard so much about fasting recently and wanted to know more about it. I loved how he says that one doesn't fast to get something, and yet, whenever I speak with friends that are fasting, that is exactly what they want: to get what they want, or a clear vision of something. In the introduction McKnight writes,

"I have come to this conclusion about fasting: when the grievous sacred moment is neglected and instead we focus on the results, fasting becomes a manipulative device instead of a genuine, Christian spiritual discipline. far too much of the conversation today about fasting is about what we can get and not enough about the serious and severe sacred moments that prompt fasting. "

If you wish to know more about yourself and what fasting really means, I recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Sun Stand Still

Recently I had the chance to read Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible by Steven Furtick. I had heard of Mr. Furtick before, as a dynamic leader and pastor of a fast growing, large church and was excited to read his book, that promised to inspire me to "audacious faith." 

While I'm still working on the "audacious faith" part, I must say that there was so much in this book that I enjoyed and some things that I really did not care for, or perhaps just not ready for. 

I enjoyed the author's personal stories and I enjoyed his emphasis on prayer. I had never really thought that much about the text of Joshua 10 and enjoyed his message. I want to ask God for the impossible and have that transforming power in my life, but I'm still a bit of a skeptic. 

Still, I enjoyed this book, found it quite interesting and inspiring. 

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255