The Moving Stream (6 Book Reviews)

Do you know why the dead sea is dead? It's because water flows into it, but not out of it. The result: no one can drink the water and the stuff in there just dies. It's not a good thing.

Well, that's how my brain is feeling. I've been reading quite a little bit this last month and I need to get some of it out. So, fortunate reader, you (un?)fortunately are the recipient of this knowledge dump. Here you go.

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1. Investing for Dummies:
Wow, what a great introduction to investing. Unfortunately, I've pieced together most of this through other books, articles, and people, but this would no doubt have saved me a lot of time had I encountered it a little bit earlier. Like any good book, it first gives you a big picture look at investing, covering all types of investments, good and bad. It then dives into a comprehensive look at all these different kinds of investments.

The value of the book lies in its intuitive layout and comprehensiveness. If you are new to investing and willing to learn, this is the book for you.

Brett Rating: 7/10

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2. Christianity and Liberalism:
This classic was good- I'm sure at the time it was prophetic and super-applicable. It still is, but its current application has more to do now with scientism/humanism/skepticism than with liberal theology. The essence: while liberal christianity sounds like the same thing as Christianity, it is completely different in substance, coming from a different source and taking different views on just about every important topic. Machen isn't really trying to argue for traditional Christianity but simply to illuminate the difference.

Brett Rating: 6/10

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3. Erasing Hell:
This is a small, lesser known book of Francis's and while the writing is simply not equal to that of Crazy Love or Forgotten God, the topic matter makes up for that in lending intensity and "life-changingness" to the work.

The argument of the book is this:
1. If there is a Hell, it is serious and should change our hearts and our lives.
2. There is an eternal hell that is taught in the Bible (despite what Rob Bell might say)
Therefore, our lives must accomodate for this heavy, heavy, truth.

I think most Christians can resonate with me when I say that most of the time it's just easier and more pleasant not to think about hell. But I think you'd also agree that if you sat with it like Paul did ( "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart...") our lives would probably look alot more like Paul. I read this on a South American flight and I must admit, it darkened my day but made me rethink my life... something that Francis has a way of doing. I'm not going to rate this one.

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3. Concerning Christian Liberty:
This essay was awesome- not simply as a look into an idea and time that changed the world, but as a truth that still holds today as the most powerful, soul-shaking, message in the universe. In this, Martin Luther simply expounds on how faith in Jesus Christ is the basis of our right standing with God. We are full of sin, he has lived the perfect life. By faith, we unite ourselves with him- and we get his perfection and he takes the wrath we deserve. Therefore, the most important thing is not doing some action to gain right standing with God, but to look upon The Word (by which Luther means the Gospel message) and to believe- that we are loved, justified, and approved, solely based on the work of Christ.

Good works and Christian morality are awesome and we're made for them, but they can also be dangerous as we are tempted with each right action to believe that we have somehow attained some added measure of favor with God- this of course is unbelief, not believing that Christ's life and death are sufficient for securing justification. I quoted this in a previous post and may be quoting it in the future.

Brett Rating: 9/10

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4. The Harry Potter Series
After stating ultimatum after ultimatum that I would never read the Harry Potter books, my friend Josh made the point that by refusing to read, I was missing the series of my time. And so I was. And so I read. And so I finished.

I won't give any spoilers to those who haven't read, but... wow. It truly is epic and this series comprises the story of our time. There's something that happens somewhere throughout the books that makes you attached- to the characters, the setting (Hogwarts), and the battle. Part of the connection is the sheer amount of time that you spend with them, but I think it's mostly that you grow up with them that makes this so powerful.

It's a great series. Highlights for me include the end of book 4 as certain events mark the transition from kids' books where the good guys always win and it's always a sunshiny day to a story where good and evil, love, and sacrifice are brought to the forefront. This book certainly has a point to make- it will stir your heart and inspire you to check your heart and consider your values.

Closing, random thoughts: Dumbledore is my second favorite fictional character, second only to Samuel Hamilton. Is it weird that they are both fellow INTPs? :) For the end of the seventh book: with Craig as my witness, I knew it!

Brett Rating: 9/10

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5. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
While I started this book simply because I knew that Macchu Picchu came up in one of the chapters, I finished with way more than a heads-up on the Incan trail. The premise of the book is interesting. The book revolves around the idea of story. Essentially, Don Miller asks the question, "What makes an interesting story?" The great premise of the book is that that which makes for an interesting story makes for an interesting life. Through Don's movie-making, adventures in South America, biking across the U.S. the reader is challenged to write a better story.

It was a super-interesting paradigm- and a helpful/challenging one as well. It left me praying, "Lord, help me to live a better story, one of sacrifice, friendship, and... interestingness :)"

Brett Rating: 6.5/10

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6. You Staying Young
So, this is a pop-book by those hot doctors that middle-aged women love. While the contents are good, it was way too long and explained way to much for the average reader. For me, I don't care how mitochondria work. Just tell me what to do to age well. As a reader of the blog, you have the benefit of not having to read the book but simply to just get the advice. So here's 300 pages in one list:

1. Exercise regularly
2. Eat good foods, not junk, and don't eat more than you need (I am ignoring this right now as I try to put on wait).
2. Brush and FLOSS (flossing affects way more than you think)
3. Invest in deep relationships
4. Pray or meditate regularly
5. Take great supplements: fish oil, vitamin B... and aspirin!
6. Get enough sleep

Brett Rating: 4/10

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Old Marty

In Peru I read a few books, but this was probably my favorite: Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther. I felt like the whole essay could be cut and pasted on my blog as what I believe and why I love Jesus. But here's a start (my italics- for the parts I really liked):

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Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation; the soul is full of sin, death, and condemnation. Let faith step in, and then sin, death, and hell will belong to Christ, and grace, life, and salvation to the soul. For, if He is a Husband, He must needs take to Himself that which is His wife's, and at the same time, impart to His wife that which is His. For, in giving her His own body and Himself, how can He but give her all that is His? And, in taking to Himself the body of His wife, how can He but take to Himself all that is hers?

In this is displayed the delightful sight, not only of communion, but of a prosperous warfare, of victory, salvation, and redemption. For, since Christ is God and man, and is such a Person as neither has sinned, nor dies, nor is condemned, nay, cannot sin, die, or be condemned, and since His righteousness, life, and salvation are invincible, eternal, and almighty,--when I say, such a Person, by the wedding-ring of faith, takes a share in the sins, death, and hell of His wife, nay, makes them His own, and deals with them no otherwise than as if they were His, and as if He Himself had sinned; and when He suffers, dies, and descends to hell, that He may overcome all things, and since sin, death, and hell cannot swallow Him up, they must needs be swallowed up by Him in stupendous conflict. For His righteousness rises above the sins of all men; His life is more powerful than all death; His salvation is more unconquerable than all hell.

Thus the believing soul, by the pledge of its faith in Christ, becomes free from all sin, fearless of death, safe from hell, and endowed with the eternal righteousness, life, and salvation of its Husband Christ.

Thus He presents to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word; that is, by faith in the word of life, righteousness, and salvation. Thus He betrothes her unto Himself "in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies" (Hosea ii. 19, 20).

Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty

It Wasn't the Nails

“They walked up a hill outside the city. Jesus carried the cross on his back. Jesus had never done anything wrong but they were going to kill him the way criminals were killed. They nailed Jesus to the cross. “Father, forgive them” Jesus gasped “They dont understand what they're doing.”

 
“You say you’ve come to rescue us!” people shouted, “but you cant even rescue yourself!”
But they were wrong. Jesus could have rescued himself. A legion of angels would have flown to his side if he’d called. 

“If you were really the son of God, you could just climb down off that cross” they said. And of course they were right. Jesus could have just climbed down. Actually, he could have said a word and made it all stop. Like when he healed that little girl, stilled the storm and fed 5,000 people.

But Jesus stayed on the cross.

You see, they didn't understand. It wasnt the nails that kept Jesus there.

It was love.

-The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally-Lloyd Jones

Suffering and Joy

 "If the foundation of your happiness is your vocation, your relationships, or your money, then suffering takes your source of joy away from you. But if your ultimate value in life is God, then suffering drives you closer to your source of joy—God."

Tullian Tchividjian

Kindling

I have a Kindle.

Whoa, right?

Ok- so after about a week I've found what I knew to be true all along- that which I knew to be true ever since reading one of my favorites, Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book: that you can't own an ebook. I mean, really own (read the earlier link on "true ownership").

I got it for travel, though, and for that- it's ideally suited. But then again, this will be tested tomorrow as I leave for Peru with only the Kindle for reading (along with a pocket New Testament).

Are we our parents?

I think for everyone, but especially for people who get in to natural explanations of personality, the temptation to believe that our behaviors are somehow pre-determined is very strong. Whether it's your MBTI or your mother's anxiety or distance or your father's passiveness (or aggressiveness), it doesn't take too much until you're understanding, settling for, and accepting the way you are with all your sinful tendencies and dispositions.

Here's the thing: For the normal person, I actually believe most of that stuff is true.

BUT. Here's another thing: If someone were to walk by the Spirit, they would not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal. 5:16 paraphrased)

Look at it- the sinful nature. It is as you thought. There is something that threatens to pull you down into habit, into selfishness- it looks different for everyone but it's there for everyone. And yet...

And yet, there's a way out- and get this: becoming a Christian is not enough! (though that is a requisite step for the real answer).It's a simple, hard thing-

Walk by the Spirit.

Here's the real article: A Big Fat Lie of Satan

The Vulnerable God

Does God need us?
Simple answer: no.

Does God need us?
Real answer: (below)

I love reading this old book called "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer. It's a great old classic on the attributes of God. Each chapter is dedicated to a single attribute.

The book takes off with with chapter titles like "The Self-Existence of God", "The Self-Sufficiency of God", and "The Immutability of God". For nineteen chapters he describes our high and holy God, infinite and never-changing, completely satisfied in the Trinity, sufficient, above, and wholly other than humans. And while it really is a conservative picture of the untouchable God that we know, He really is an awesome God.

At chapter 20, though, something changes.

Suddenly, in the chapter titled "The Love of God", it's as if Tozer has found himself in a wrestling match with the constraints of human language, trying to somehow describe how this high and holy God feels about us. While Tozer is careful to maintain God's self-sufficiency and everything else he's described to this point... there's something that he won't- that he can't gloss over.

There's something that Tozer sees in a sheep that was worth risking everything for, in a lost coin that's celebrated over, in an old man who runs down a driveway to kiss his son- that while God doesn't depend on us, his feelings for us are approaching, similar to, whole lot like, and dangerously close to... a need.

This God loves so much it hurts him- he is jealous, he pursues, he shows his heart, and he puts it on the line for you to accept or reject. This awesome and majestic King of Kings has chosen to tie his heart to us in a way that makes him vulnerable.

Somewhere between "want" and "need", between "I'd like" and "I-must-have",  between "be mine" and "you will be mine" is Yaweh's love for sinners like me and you.

Of course, the epicenter of this tension is the cross of Jesus Christ. For most of us, whether we believe it's possible or not, we're looking for a love that throws itself out there- that risks everything for a chance that we'll love back. A love that's not indifferent, that's not halfway. That gives everything and that tells our heart that we matter- that we're known- that we're wanted.

And at the cross, we see God's bleeding heart for sinners. For God, it's his vulnerable moment. It's his DTR. It's at the cross where we see God sharing his heart- and then tragically... we see it mocked, spit at, humiliated and killed.

But God has left the invitation open- the invitation to believe and enter into what another of my favorite authors calls "crazy love" remains.

It's not a need. But it's love.

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It is a strange and beautiful eccentricity of the free God that He has allowed His heart to be emotionally identified with men. Self-sufficient as He is, He wants our love and will not be satisfied till He gets it. Free as He is, He has let His heart be bound to us forever. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. “For our soul is so specially loved of Him that is highest,” says Julian of Norwich, “that it overpasseth the knowing of all creatures: that is to say, there is no creature that is made that may know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loveth us. And therefore we may with grace and His help stand in spiritual beholding, with everlasting marvel of this high, overpassing, inestimable Love that Almighty God hath to us of His Goodness.”
-A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy