The Search Committee

Owens’ book is about a parallel journey. On one rail of the track he chronicles the committee’s travels to and from churches across North and South Carolina. He does so by providing details on such things as the condition and smell of the old church van to the people they meet during their church visits. He frequently discusses their “system” of entering churches so as not to be identified by the churches as the group coming to “steal the pastor”. As a pastor, this method of search is one that I am familiar with. Owens recounts their travels, experiences, troubles, mishaps, and portions of their life stories. On the other rail of the track, he chronicles the journey that each of the seven members are on personally. As the members listen to the sermons of each prospective pastor, we learn how each one is impacted.

I really enjoyed this book. Owens does a great job of pulling the covers back on the lives of the committee so the reader may see their vulnerable human side. As he does, Owens reminds us that although we may look as though we have it together on the outside, you never know what happening inside. The Search Committee is a great read; easy and quietly challenging. I found myself laughing out loud at the actions of the committee. In other places, I was deeply moved by their life experiences. Owens includes a study guide at the end that would allow this to be a helpful small group resource on the subtle ways in which God works in our lives. I highly recommend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

“They dwell in their countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all others; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death and restored to life. They are poor yet make many rich, they are in lack of all things an yet abound in all; they are dishonored and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of and yet are justified; they are reviled and bless; they are insulted and repay the insult with honor; they do good yet are punished as evildoers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. To sum it all up in one word – what the soul is to the body, that are Christians in the world.”

The Epistle to Diognetes, early Christian writing – AD 130

One can only imagine how different our world would be today if the same thing could be said of the Christian faith in the twenty-first century.

Here’s an excerpt:

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Stearns has an easy free-flowing feel to his book. He begins by giving an accurate and no-holds-barred assessment  of the world situation. Stearns writes to give the reader an up-to-date road map and a better understanding of our current world situation. He follows this up by introducing the reader to the “Three Houses” which he describes as “the primary ideological power structures responsible for fueling global affairs.” They are Radical Islam, Militant Secularism, and Judeo-Christianity. Stearns spends an entire chapter on what he calls the myth of coexistence. He writes that there are three reasons why coexistence is not possible. The next three chapters are spent carefully and methodically explaining these three “houses”, dedicating an entire chapter to each. He also writes that there is a spiritual element to each that is vital to their understanding. The remaining chapters are dedicated to the manner in which the battle for prominence is being fought and the church’s role in this pursuit for global influence.

“No, We Can’t” is not an easy read. There is a great deal of explanation given to the ideology of these three cultural kingdoms. I particularly like the way in which Stearns was able to clearly lay out the battle of ideas that rages around us. One particular quote shows the power of these three houses. Stearns writes, “These worldviews (or “houses”) are rapidly becoming the new scaffolding upon which the sociopolitical world is built.” Prophetic. Gripping. Frightening. A great work.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

 Bethlehem was physically sleeping. While the residents of Bethlehem slept, the Son of God was born into the world among them. While the residents of Bethlehem slept, the Savior of the world was born in a lowly stable with no fan fare, no attention, and no honor due a King. While the residents of Bethlehem slept, the landscape of the known world, and those to come, changed forever. The residents of Bethlehem secured a place for themselves in history as “a city with no room for its King.” They go on to write:

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Jerusalem was spiritually sleeping. Thirty-plus years later, people were sleeping. This time, the residents of Jerusalem slept while the Son of God hung on a cross. The residents of Jerusalem slept while Jesus died for their sin. The residents of Jerusalem slept while the Messiah, the One the religious leaders were looking for and ought to have recognized,  gave His life for the people who cried “Crucify Him.” He came as their writings and witnesses said He would. He had walked among them. He performed miracles. He taught. He loved. He testified of an for the Father. He yielded. He died. All for this while no one seemed to care. The residents of Jerusalem secured a place for themselves in history as “a city with no room for its King.”

Before we take the residents of Bethlehem and Jerusalem to task on their failure to understand the mission and person of Jesus Christ, notice again the words of Casting Crowns.

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

As a nation we are sleeping today. In the middle of the day, we’re sleeping. With the sun shining bright and eyes wide open, we’re sleeping. With the complete thoughts and mind God written for us that reveals our sin, points us to the cross, and calls us to die to self, we’re sleeping. Lullabies of tolerance, coexistence, and compromise rock a nation to sleep every night. Lullabies of “many paths to God”, “man is his own god”, and “feed what makes you feel good” enable a nation to peacefully sleep. Most troubling is the fact that America seems to be sleeping well. What will it take to stir this nation from its sleep? What will happen to our nation if we continue to sleep? How long before God Himself says “that’s enough” and the Bridegroom splits the sky to receive His own? Will the residents America secure for themselves a place in history as “a city with no room for its King”?

Today is Christmas. We are reminded of the Luke’s words regarding this day. “Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.

Two chapters stood out to me. In chapter three, Harris writes about the reasons why we need the church. He says on p.44, “This is why gathering to worship with other believers in a local church is so irreplaceable. It can’t be substituted with a great devotional time, a lively Bible study with friends, a meditative nature hike, or a live TV church service. When the church is together to worship and to hear God’s Word preached, nourishment and encouragement occur that can’t happen quite the same anywhere else. Our corporate worship edifies and strengthens us and glorifies God in ways nothing else can.” He also makes note of, in his opinion, three reasons why people stay away from church. He cites Self-Centeredness (what’s in it for me?), Prideful Independence (I can grow as a believer on my own), and a Critical Spirit (the church is broken). I believe chapter 5 is the most meaningful and beneficial chapter of the entire 120 page book. Entitled “Choosing Your Church”, Harris of ten important questions to consider before joining a church. Several include “Is this a church where God’s Word is faithfully taught?”, “Is this a church committed to reaching non-Christians with the gospel?”, and “Is this a church where members are challenged to serve?” These questions possess great potential. I believe them to be a great framework by which one can make a informed and meaningful decision about a church home. These are the questions I hope a potential member would ask before joining the church I pastor.

“ Why Church Matters” is a good book. It is light, engaging, smartly-written, easy to read, and scriptural. If you are looking for an in-depth study of ecclesiology, go somewhere else. The only negative for me is that I would like to have seen certain areas and topics further expanded. Included is a study guide covering each chapter which lends this book to be a great small-group resource. This would be a great book for the church-skeptic or the believer who has been hurt by the church and may be considering giving up on the body of Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

 “Nearing Home” helps the reader learn how to take hold of God’s will for your life, lean on God when loved ones are lost, navigate life-changing transitions, and biblically deal with fear. The book falls into ten chapters. It does not have the standard feel and structure. Instead, this book takes on a conversational format;  mingled with scripture and personal stories.  This is a simple read written by a man who has given his life to the single purpose of honoring God and leading others to do the same. He encourages and inspires the reader to face the uncertain future with the certainly of Jesus Christ. A quote that inspired me is this one: “The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.”  “Nearing Home” is well worth your time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

There never was another Who died and was buried and yet lived; Who saved others and Himself could not save; Who had no sin in Him, yet all sin on Him; Who was the King of Glory, yet wore no crown but a crown of thorns; Who, in the glory He had with God before the world was, had the angelic hails of heaven and yet, on earth, gave Himself to the murderous nails of men!

There never was another Who was the Prince of life, yet died on Calvary; Who was as old as His heavenly Father and ages older than His earthly mother. There never was another Who was the victim of a Roman cross and victor at a Jewish grave.

There never was another Who poured all seas, all lakes, all rivers out of the crystal chalices of eternity, yet on a cross said with a mouth hot like a parched desert that cries for rain, ‘I thirst’”.

R. G. Lee, speaking of Jesus Christ

 I was initially skeptical that these 27 missions could be covered and sufficiently expounded in a single volume. I was correct. The reader has to be willing to stay with Scott as he makes his way toward the 27 missions that don’t come along until chapters 16 and 17. And then, they are treated in a cursory, survey-type method. I did however like he way in which he dealt with the 4 missions Christ asked us to take on. He provided sub-sections with actions and activities to help embrace and understand the missions. All in all, a great book. It is well-written and thoroughly researched. I found it to be smart, challenging, and convicting. I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to further develop their spiritual walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”

Dr. Mohler begins by stating the positions that most Christians take toward culture: extreme involvement or non-involvement. He sets up his work by using Augustine’s “City of God” as a model and guide. Augustine said that humanity is confronted by to cities: The city of God, eternal and seeking to honor God; The City of Man, passing and self-serving, characterized by disobedience, moral autonomy, and a spirit of rebellion. By way of introduction and a desire to provide necessary groundwork, Dr. Mohler introduces the reader to the voices for and positions of those who would seek a purely secular society void of any reference to God. With intellectual sharpness and respect, Dr. Mohler denounces these concepts and shows the futility of the arguments.

The bulk of his book is spent introducing the reader to the areas of culture in which our lives and society are experiencing shifts. Dr. Mohler discusses numerous topics including the perceived right to never be offended, the role of the Supreme Court and religion, terrorism, biomedicine, public school, parenting, abortion, natural disasters, New Atheism, and the “digital deluge” of modern technology. Mohler, in a very fair but firm manner, deals with each issue and the proponents of these issues in a way that honors God and elevates the Scriptures. These chapters are not an in-depth analysis, nor are they exhaustive. Instead, they serve as a primer for further study and discussion.

I found “Culture Shift” to be engaging, useful, enlightening, challenging, and a stern warning. As a Christian, the ideas and agendas that serve to diminish my worldview are exposed. As a pastor, I was able to see deeper into the competing worldviews that my congregation deals with every day. If there is one negative to say, it would be this. Not enough. The essay blog-post form of the chapters left me wanting much more. I believe the material and topics covered in “Culture Shift” could make up two books giving more attention to each. To say that Dr. Mohler has exposed the slippery slope of liberalism and the cravings of humanist thought would be a gross understatement. I highly recommend this book all who claim the name of Christ who desire to know the forces and agenda coming against your belief system. Well written, researched, and presented. Just what I expected.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogger Review 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.”