Christmas Recommendations 2007

Book Reviews

The Christmas Season will soon be upon us.  For many that can only mean the panic of shopping for that special gift for that extra-special person in your life.  Now, if you like to shop as much as I like to shop, well…you are in for some long afternoons.  But, let me give you some suggestions that might make your shopping easier and, at the same time, bring some enrichment and blessing to the life of that special person on your shopping list.

May I begin by suggesting a film that would be worth your consideration?  The acclaimed film, “Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story,” will be released on DVD this month.  Friends, this is a film that you will want to view again and again.  It is the dramatic story of how one man, committed to God and committed to principles, dedicated his life to see the abolition of the slave-trade in Great Britain.  In the film you will also have the opportunity to peek into the life of John Newton, whose hymn becomes the title of the film.  The great need of the world today is for more men and women to become John Newtons and William Wilberforces, committed to the principles of the Word of God. 

Books always make a lasting gift.  Francine Rivers is one of my favorite authors.  She has recently completed her series of The Sons of Encouragement.  The final volume is on the life of Silas – the Scribe.  Others in the series include: Aaron – the Priest; Caleb – the Warrior; Jonathan – the Prince; and Amos – the Prophet.  Another series is titled The Lineage of Grace, and features the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary – the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.  And, if you have not read her trilogy titled, The Mark of the Lion, you owe yourself the privilege of sharing in this story from the Early Church. 

Another recently published book that I would recommend strongly is titled The Truth War, written by John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and president of Master’s College and Seminary.  This is a timely book exposing the tendency of the Church today to stray away from truth.  We live in a world described as being postmodern which means that absolute truth has been cast aside in favor of relativism.  The author argues that God has called the Church to proclaim the truth found within the written Word and known through the Living Word.  Part of the book is a history of how the Church has dealt with deviation from the truth in the past.  If the Church is to survive the postmodern culture and remain a viable anchor for many, then it must return to its biblical foundations and proclaim them with authority.  It is through truth that people are set free…not through personal beliefs or opinions.

If you are looking for a gift to share with your pastor or another church leader, I would recommend Simple Church, written by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.  In this day of complex formulas that offer growth and success, it was refreshing to read a book that dared to proclaim that “simplicity is better”.  It seems that programs are driving ministry these days.  There is a program to fit just about any scenario that the local church could experience.  Programs begin with good intentions and often are successful.  But the purpose for their creation soon disappears…yet the program continues, often for years.  The authors proclaim that it is time for local churches to rediscover the simplicity of ministry, of focusing upon one or two objectives, of seeing God work through a simple structure that every one in the church can identify with.  I look back upon my days of ministry within the local church and wish that I had seen the value of becoming more simple.  This is a book that I would highly recommend that church staff members and elder boards study together.  The changes might be drastic…but the church might become more effective.      

Finally, if you are looking for a book that is a real “page-turner,” then let me introduce you to a series of exciting novels written by Joel Rosenberg.  Reading these books is almost like reading the newspaper even before the events happen.  The storyline occurs in such places as Denver, Washington D.C., Jerusalem, Gaza City, and Moscow.  The characters are as real as your next door neighbor or the person in the cubicle in your office.  Begin with The Last Jihad, then continue with The Last Days, followed by The Ezekiel Option (this is one of those “wow!” books), and finally The Copper Scroll.  Then, if you are interested in knowing the facts upon which the books are based, the author’s book Epicenter is a must.  There is also a DVD version of that book as well. 

My dear friends, when you give a book to someone you really are sharing a portion of your heart with that person.  For, in the giving, you are saying, “This book touched my heart, and I believe it can touch yours as well.”  I wish you “happy reading” during these “Holy Days.”

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