The Meeting of the Waters - Fritz Kling

This was a fascinating and helpful book. I work with an organization where we help facilitate groups to go on relief and development missions trips, so the global church is my everyday reality. This book was an encouraging and helpful resource that at times reinforced what I have been encountering in the church and at times it shed new light into a shadowed area for me. I have enjoyed this book a great deal! Fritz Kling has an effective writing style that I found easy to read and relate to my own life. I would recommend this book to those that are interested in current trends or those that work within the church who have ever wondered where it is heading or why. 

Seven Currents that are Changing the Global Church

A Breakthrough Book by Fritz Kling details the rapid transitionary forces facing Christianity today

Two rivers meet in Manaus, Brazil, at the turbulent head of the Amazon River. The different-colored tributaries do not give way or merge, but instead strain against their common seam. For ten miles, they share the same channel but remain distinct like oil and water. 

Christendom finds itself at just such a murky and perilous juncture. The church is caught between its tried-and-true past and an all-bets-are-off future. Christianity throughout the world is stunning in its scope and spiritual impact, but what is happening to the Church as new technological, promotional, and generational shifts make their unavoidable mark? And what difference does it make for Christians in day-to-day life?

The Meeting of the Waters, a new book by Fritz Kling, identifies seven trends—including migration, machines, and the growing Mercy Generation—having an impact on today’s Global Church. Neither an institution nor a bureaucracy, the global Church is incredibly adaptive and vibrant.  It has long been the world’s most effective relief agent, meeting needs across the globe through justice advocacy, material aid, counseling, biblical proclamation, education, and more. But what forces are shaping the global church, and what will it take in this unique place in time for the church to continue its mission of hope?  Equal parts travelogue, character study, and global documentary, this breakthrough book seeks to answer these important questions and is written for anyone eager to make a difference in a changing world.

Kling’s experience as a foundation executive who has researched and directed investments to Christian ministries around the world has taught him how to “connect the dots”—to understand how forces secular and sacred, ancient and modern, spiritual and physical, domestic and international have informed Christian ministry. Over the past eight years, Kling has met with more than a thousand indigenous church leaders from forty different countries. He has made airlines re-think their frequent flyer programs, bounced through endless van rides, and drunk gallons of Coke and chai in both slums and skyscrapers.  Secular commentators have long written about globalization’s wake, but Fritz Kling has witnessed it firsthand—through a Christian lens. The Meeting of the Waters is the byproduct of these experiences and is therefore able to give an original and incredibly well researched perspective on the growing need to understand ministry in a rapidly changing world.

The Meeting of the Waters will be an important addition to the libraries of anyone who wants to make a difference for Christ in a global community. In particular, pastors, mission pastors, missions committees, seminary professors, missionaries, and mission agency employees will find this book a fascinating and useful tool.    

The Meeting of the Waters by Fritz Kling

David C Cook/March 2010/ISBN: 978-1-4347-6484-3/256 pages/softcover/$16.99

http://www.davidccook.com/

A History Of Christianity; Episode One - Diarmaid MacCulloch

This is a brilliant overview of Christianity in the earliest days. It is fresh, interesting and insightful and presents many new sides of the story that, even in all of my church history classes over the years, I have not heard about. MacCulloch is entertaining and so well educated on the topic that this history class never gets boring! It seems strange for me to want voluntarily decide to watch a DVD on the topic of church history but I had seen MacCulloch on TV once before and was impressed, so I thought I would try this one out and I was not disappointed. It was interesting to learn new things and have just enough information given so I was not loosing interest in the information, but not too much to make me bored of the topic and wanting to be done with it. In fact I would even look forward to seeing more of these, and that is saying volumes!

Discovering the Surprising History of the First Christians

New DVD series examines Christianity’s global roots.

Click here to view the trailer!

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—There are two billion Christians in the world today, a third of humanity—Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, and many more. Though Christians, by definition, are well-versed in the story of Christ and the apostles, many have given little thought to the details of their Christian heritage—the miraculous transferring of their faith from the first Christians huddled at Golgotha, across two centuries worth of cultures and languages, wars, and the rising and falling of empires. How did this small, obscure Jewish sect that preached humility and personal sacrifice become the biggest religion in the world? The answer will surprise you.

A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years is a six-part series co-produced by the BBC, the Open University, and Jerusalem Productions and presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, one of the world’s leading historians and Professor of History of the Church and Fellow at St. Cross College, Oxford. As MacCulloch reveals the true history of Christianity, he explores the question, “What does it really mean to be a Christian?”

While most Christian histories start with St. Paul’s mission to Rome, MacCulloch asserts that the Christianity stayed much closer to its Middle-Eastern roots and that, in fact, the first Christians actually took the eastern road from Jerusalem, spreading their faith across Asia, even to parts of China.

“Today, Christianity is seen as a Western faith. Indeed, many in the Muslim world would see Western lifestyles as Christian lifestyles. But Christianity is not by origin a Western religion,” MacCulloch says. “Its beginnings are in the Middle East, where there still exist churches which have been Eastern since the earliest Christian era. The story of the first Christianity tells us the Christian faith is, in fact, hugely diverse with many identities.”

MacCulloch is one of the most widely traveled Christian historians, and A History of Christianity is the first retelling of the Christian story that is truly global in scope. Filmed in high definition, A History of Christianity takes viewers on a 2,000-year odyssey that reaches the farthest corners of the world, from Palestine in the first century to India in the third, from Damascus to China in the seventh century, and from San Francisco to Korea in the twentieth.

A scholar whose fascination with Christian history was cultivated at an early age, Diarmaid MacCulloch is the last in three generations of Anglican clergy. That personal connection enriches the storytelling, as he describes not only the main ideas and personalities of Christian history, its organization, and spirituality, but how it has changed our views on politics, sex, and human society.

“Religious belief can transform us for good or ill. It has brought human beings to acts of criminal folly as well as the highest achievements of goodness and creativity. I tell the story of both extremes,” MacCulloch says.

The twentieth century brought what many perceive to be the greatest threat to Christianity—skepticism and spiritual apathy. Still, MacCulloch contends that the future of Christianity is filled with possibilities.

The DVD set will arrive in stores, including Sam’s Club, in time for the Easter Season. The series will also be available on Amazon.com.

A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years 6 DVD Set presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch

March 2010

www.ambrosevideo.com

The Right Call - Kathy Herman

The Right Call is apparently the third book in the Sophie Trace Trilogy. I personally have not read the previous two books yet, nor have I read any of Kathy Herman's other books, an oversight I will have to correct.

The Right Call was a great novel. The characters were well developed and I found myself easily drawn into the plot of the story. The characters are dynamic and have their odd little quirks which makes them all the more endearing.

There were quite a few references to the happenings from the previous books, but it never came across in a manner that left me, the unknowing reader, confused or lost. However it left me just curious enough to decide I need to buy the previous two books and learn more about the adventures of the Jessup family.

Overall, a wonderful story, lovable characters and an all around successful piece of writing!

Heart-pounding suspense that delivers heart-changing truth

Kathy Herman’s latest book proves to be a thrilling conclusion to the Sophie Trace Trilogy

It’s summer in Sophie Trace, the setting of Kathy Herman’s latest page turner, The Right Call. Based on 2 Peter 2:19b: “For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him,” The Right Call demonstrates how we’re all slaves to something—either to God and righteousness or to the flesh and its pitfalls.

Ethan Langley is home from college for the summer, eager to renew his friendship with Vanessa Jessup (Police Chief Brill Jessup’s daughter) and her infant son, Carter. Before Ethan is even settled his world is rocked by a random shooting that leaves four people dead, including someone close to him. Ethan tries to deal with his grief by staying busy and concentrating on his growing love for Vanessa. When a coworker from the previous summer, Stedman Reeves, seems somewhat obsessed with the shooting—but also sympathetic to Ethan’s deep loss—the two seem to connect.

While Chief Jessup is scrambling to find a suspect in the shootings, Ethan gets a late-night call from Stedman, who sounds panicked and needs to see him right away. Stedman confesses shocking details: due to a series of bad choices, he is going to be framed for the murders. All the evidence points to Stedman’s guilt, and he knows that there is no way he can prove his innocence. Stedman implores Ethan to go to Vanessa’s mother with this information.

When the wrong people find out that Ethan knows too much, those around him are placed in danger. What should he do? Going to Chief Jessup with the truth could save Stedman from doing life in prison—but it could be a death sentence for and Vanessa and Carter. He’s been dealt an impossible hand, but it’s his move. Will he make the right call?

Best-selling suspense novelist Kathy Herman brings this vivid story to life in her new book, The Right Call, the third book in the acclaimed Sophie Trace Trilogy. Filled with heart-pounding suspense that delivers heart-changing truth, The Right Call uses the perilous story of a young college student to reinforce the importance of walking closely with God, to be armed with wisdom and strength in order to face the toughest of circumstances.

The Right Call by Kathy Herman

David C Cook/March 1, 2010/ISBN: 978-1-4347-6784-4/352 pages/softcover/$14.99

www.davidccook.com ~  www.kathyherman.com

Click here to view the book trailer!

Glaen by Fred Lybrand

My thoughts on: Glaen by Fred Lybrand

Gotta be honest, I had high hopes for this book and was a bit disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high but I was really looking forward to the concept of self help and novel being combined, but it just didn't work well for me. The flow of the novel was interrupted by interjecting the self help portions. Not being familiar with Lybrand's previous work I am assuming that he shines in the self help area but is not yet a polished novelist. There were little things like fact that the characters often referred to each other by their proper names. If I am going to get into a novel I have to feel like these characters are my friends and we are hanging out together when I read. When reading this book I felt like it was one big long awkward blind date where I have to keep saying the guys name so I don't forget it. 

Now apart from my above comments I did enjoy the self help parts of the book. I thought that he had some great points and made valid connections. 

Overall I thought the concept of the book and the self help side of it was great, it was the novel side that I was disappointed in. Two out of three ain't bad. 

Here's what others had to say:

Click on cover to see the Glaen book trailer!

What readers are saying about Fred Lybrand’s Glaen:

“This book was a creative glimpse into what freedom in relationships truly looks like and how to relate in authentic ways with those around you. For me, I found it refreshing and thought provoking because it really challenges the way many of us have looked at relationships before.” ~ Christine (27 years old)

“Glaen is has been a great tool to start discussions with my teenage daughters and help them to understand romance and dating in a healthier way.” ~ Christy (a mom)

“Glaen is a clear, straight-forward book with deep, lasting insights about a universally puzzling subject...dating. If you begin it, you will see it through to the end; if not for its wisdom, for also its engaging story. If you care about having a relationship that lasts a lifetime, you will be greatly gratified by reading this story, or sorely deprived by missing out on it.” ~ Stephen (18 years old)

“…insightful, clever, and tied together with surprising twists.  I found the “lies” countered with “truths” presented within the narrative to bring clarity to the often confusing subject of relationships.”    ~ Grant (a senior pastor)

Author Fred Lybrand takes an in-depth look into relationships and dating, plus a little common sense for the real day-to-day world, in his latest book, Glaen.

Glaen introduces the character of Annie Hughes just as she suffers the loss of one of life’s foundational relationships—her parents’ marriage. As a graduate student, Annie suddenly finds herself at a loss to understand how any relationship finds and maintains lifetime staying power, especially a relationship as intimate as marriage.

Lybrand’s character development of Annie Hughes allows him to outline several foundational truths. Using Annie’s “research” and “journal” entries as the vehicle to present thought-provoking ideas to the reader, Lybrand first uncovers the lies of a secular world-view and then counters those lies with the truth of God’s design for the marriage relationship. These observations are made even clearer as the reader observes Annie’s interaction with other couples and friends who are in the process of dating and considering marriage. As she questions her friends’ choices, she also takes an honest look at the relationships she is developing within her own life.

The life changing principles found in Glaen are the gems Lybrand wants readers to take from the story and experience in their own lives and relationships. Thus, Glaen is a book that demands a second reading, as those who read its story will want to go through it again and highlight and examine the truths Annie uncovers throughout her journey. This book will serve as a great teaching tool for parents to use with their children as well as for church leaders guiding couples who are seeking a more satisfying marriage relationship. 

Glaen by Fred R. Lybrand

The Barnabas Agency   February 2010

ISBN: 978-0-578-04652-5/softcover/171 pages/$14.99

Website: www.glaen.com ~ Blog: www.glaen.wordpress.com

Become a fan of Glaen on Facebook!

The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice

My thoughts on: The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice
This is a fascinating book that looks at how the technology today is changing the way in which we communicate and interact. It brings to light concepts such as being "tethered" to our technology and electronic messaging systems and what effect that has on our lives.


I had feared that his book would do nothing but slam facebook and social media sites in general, but it did nothing of the sort. Rice took an objective and in-depth look at the issues and also made it fun to read.
I adore Jesse Rice's sense of humour that comes across in the form of random footnotes every once in a while. These short quips would often make me laugh out loud and found myself wishing that there would be more of them. However his website has many short video clips made to promote the book that had me laughing loud enough to make my room mate stop in to see what was so funny.


My summary and humble opinion is that his book is a great book for pastors, lay leaders, anyone wanting to understand the fascination with "that new fangled technology" as my Granny would say or anyone with an interest in sociology or new trends. So I guess in short I think that anyone could stand to learn from this book and enjoy themselves in the process. 

Facebook: Where the Future Church Hangs Out

How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community

Watch the video trailer for The Church of Facebook!

A revolution is taking place, one profile at a time.  Online social networks like Facebook and MySpace are connecting people like never before.  With hundreds of millions of users, they’re creating almost limitless potential to redefine our personal worlds.  It’s a movement that’s changing how we form relationships, perceive others, and shape our identity.

In his new book, The Church of Facebook (David C Cook, October 2009) author Jesse Rice takes a deeper look at the movement which, at its core, reflects our need for community.  “Our longing for intimacy, connection, and a place to belong has never been a secret, but social networking offers us a new perspective on the way we engage our community,” Rice states.  This new perspective raises new questions: How do these networks impact our relationships?  In what ways are they shaping the way we think of ourselves?  And how might this phenomenon subtly reflect a God who longs to connect with each one of us?

The Church of Facebook explores these ideas and much more, offering a revealing look at the wildly popular world of online social networking.  “The new landscape of social networking tells us two basic things:  One, we have a deep desire to be known.  And, two, we are faced with a technology that both enables and hinders the intimacy we’re looking for,” Rice says.  From personal profiles to status updates, author Jesse Rice takes a thoroughly entertaining and insightful look into what Facebook reveals about us, and what it may mean for the future of “community.”

Social networking is no fad; it has become a fact of life, especially for teens and twenty-somethings. The Church of Facebook is essential reading for parents and pastors who want to understand this trend and its impact on their children and congregations.  Rice’s discussions will engage social networkers of all ages and stages who are wrestling with the very real issues of identity, meaning, purpose, and friendship within the context of virtual communities.

In the end, The Church of Facebook moves readers toward understanding God’s work in the body of Christ, the church.  Driven by Rice’s thought-provoking questions, observations, humor, and heartfelt storytelling, The Church of Facebook challenges readers to consider new perspectives regarding their social networking habits and how those habits may point to deeper heart issues and, ultimately, our hunger for Jesus.

Author Bio: Jesse Rice is a writer and musician and served for eight years as the Contemporary Worship Arts Director at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, a large and thriving congregation in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Jesse has a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and is an authority on the search for meaning in a fast-paced, hyper-connected world.  He is a sought-after worship leader and speaker with more than fifteen years of experience working with college students and young adults.  Jesse and his wife, Katie, live in Palo Alto, California.

The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice

David C Cook/October 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4347-6534-5/192 pages/softcover/$12.99

www.davidccook.com   www.churchoffacebook.com

Tinnitus... a constant ringing in your ears.

So, for as long as I can remember I have lived with a ringing in my ears. My dad has had it since he was a kid and he told me many years ago that the doctor had told him there was nothing they could do about it. I never thought to question whether technology or medical advances had been made in this area. I simply resigned myself to the fact that there was nothing that could be done about it and I was doomed to be as hard of hearing as my dad somewhere down the road. Genetics, what are you going to do... right? Well today I found out that I was wrong! I have never been so happy to find out that I am wrong, because it means that I may be able to have a life without constant ringing in my ears. Now, I have lived with it all my life so I have gotten used to it, but if there is something that helps I am all for trying it!! There is a blog giveaway on right now that I will definitely enter, but in the mean time I am going on a hunt to find this stuff and get started right away!! 
If you are interested read more about this product and the giveaway here.
I will let everyone know when I find it in the store and how it works out once I have taken it for a while!! I hope this works!! 

I am more than just books

OK, recently I have been thinking that although I started this blog as a way to review books, I never intended it to be the sole purpose. I had thought that this would be a good way to get things off my chest and work through ideas and thoughts and struggles even. Then I quickly discovered that anyone else stumbling across this can read all about the intimate thoughts I am putting down. So I quickly recoiled at this and have been using it for reviewing books and nothing more. However I wondered that with there being no personal posts on here at all, readers will never get to know me as a person and so why would they respect what I have to say when reviewing a book?

In light of this revelation I am going to try to be more personal in some of my posts. Now being an introvert, book reviews are much easier to swallow than a personal post, but I need to push myself beyond my comfort zone once in a while and this is going to be my new foray into the uncomfortable.

I guess you will have to bear with me as well on this journey as I am not really sure what to say that will be of any interest to those readers that stumble upon it. Do I talk about all my "woe-is-me" struggles? Do I include the mundane things or omit them in order to keep the reader awake? Well I guess all of these things can be mulled over at another time and I will simply begin with me and my family and friends.

My family is the only constant factor in my life. For as long as I can remember, and even before that, we have been wanderers, nomads of a sort. My dad was always working on a degree of some kind and when he finished being a student, he became a teacher. We bounced around from the Southern US to the North-East US and then back to Canada. There were many houses and schools and new friends to be made at each new place, not to mention mourning the loss of those I had just left behind. To this day the longest I have ever lived in one place is four years. To me that has become the norm, but when I state that fact I can see most people's jaw drop a little.

I don't say this to elicit any pity or even sympathy. This is just a part of who I am now and I think it created strong sense of independence in me. Some would argue that this is a defense mechanism and that I am using it as a crutch, I would disagree. If I had no working friendships and could never invest in others for fear of having them or me exit the relationship for some reason, then yes that would be debilitating and I would be in need of fixing. I however have many deep long lasting friendships that are very dear to me. We may not live in the same city but they are always close to my heart and in my thoughts often.

So why am I telling you all of this? Lately I have had several friends, that I have not talked to in quite some time, call me and we had a great talk that left me reveling in the warmth of all that a true friend is and should be. It was spectacular! My family is going through a rough time right now and it was good to reconnect with my beloved friends. Some of my best memories have been formed with these amazing people and I would love to gather them all to live close by so we could connect more often. They are a constant support for me in trouble, as they all display the love of God to me through their example.

It has also drawn me back to relying heavily on God. I am not sure about the rest of the world, but I tend to wander off the path God has set out for me. Not knowingly or maliciously, more like a curious child wanting to get a closer look at all the pretty flowers in the forest and then realizing she has wandered too far. The most comforting thing is that I just have to call out the name of my Saviour to find that he has been standing waiting for me, ever so patiently standing on the path and wanting me to rejoin Him on the journey we are taking together.

Please pray for my family if you feel so lead. Thanks!

Shoz