They Smell Like Sheep.

Book Review.

Andersen, Lynn.  They Smell Like Sheep (Volume 2) Leading with the heart of a shepherd.  Howard Books.  2007.

Comment.  Henry.

Lynn has written a book that is directed mainly at pastors (shepherds) and their congregations (sheep).  Like so many book titles, this one does not really hit the nail on the head.  The subtitle is more to the point.  Lynn comes from a very traditional evangelical point of view and stresses fundamental issues of pastoral leadership with a focus on the ‘heart’ and all that this analogy implies.

Being a shepherd is all about the heart, a heart that is compelled by the glory of God.  Prayer is basic and marks the path of a shepherd.  The Psalms are crucial in such praying.

The development of integrity (of the heart) follows a pattern not unlike the natural development of the (physical) body, i.e. childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.  The holiness of God shapes the heart of integrity and is reflected by purity. 

Effective shepherding is about relationships with needy people.  In order for the shepherd to feed his sheep (teach the Word) he must be immersed in that Word as a disciple.  This is a long term commitment. 

Shepherding is servant leadership with all its vulnerabilities, e.g. a broken heart.  There is no retirement from this calling.

henrydirksen.blogspot.com 

The Last Word

Book Review.

Wright, N.T.  The Last Word.  Beyond the Bible wars to a new understanding of the authority of Scripture.  HarperSanFrancisco  2005.

Comment.  Henry.

This is a very stimulating read of biblical scholarship which is Tom’s strong gift.  Scriptural authority is absolutely essential in a Christian worldview and this resource becomes a valuable tool in understanding and applying such a view.

In his Prologue, Tom gives “a brief sketch of the Bible within the Christian church.” (3)  He deals with scripture and culture, politics, philosophy, theology, and ethics. Authority of scripture is a part of divine authority.  It is declared by story.  It is not a list of rules and commandments.  Jesus demonstrated his kingdom (sovereignty) through healing and teaching.  God’s purpose (kingdom) is not just about salvation but also a renewal of the whole world.  What role does scripture play in accomplishing this goal?

The role of scripture is reviewed as it relates to God’s chosen people and in that context the kingdom of God.  “The work which God had done through Scripture in the Old Testament is done by Jesus in his public career, his death and resurrection, and his sending of the Spirit.” (43)  Jesus affirmed the authority of scripture. 

A very helpful explanation is given about how the written Word (O.T.) compares to and is the incarnated Word of the Apostolic Church.  A brief account is presented about how the church “lived with scripture for sixteen hundred years during the medieval period. 

“The Enlightenment was, in fact, for the most part an explicitly anti-Christian movement.” (83)  Some “misreadings of scripture” (106) are presented.  They may be right wing and/or left wing.

Getting back on track with the issue of the authority of scripture requires that we have a proper balanced ingredient of tradition and reason.  We need a “mutilayered view of scripture.” (121)

We honour the authority of scripture “by a reading of scripture that is (a) totally contextual, (b) liturgically grounded, (c) privately studied, (d) refreshed by appropriate scholarship, and (e) taught by the church’s accredited leaders.” (127)

henrydirksen.blogspot.com

God is Red

Book Review.

Yiwu, Liao.  God is Red.  The secret story of how Christianity survived and flourished in communist China,  Harper One. 2011.

L.Y.- a Chinese author, reporter, musician, and poet.  He is a critic of the Chinese regime and has been imprisoned for expressed views.  His writings have been banned in China.  The material in this book has been the result of personal interviews.  Writings about Christianity in China are not tolerated so information can only be attained through interviews.  Liao is not a Christian.  This book explains many of the details that are part of the vibrancy of Christianity in China.

Wenguang Huang- is a writer, journalist and translator.   He translated Liao’s book.  He lives in Chicago.

In 2009 Liao made a trip to Dali City where he explored the site of a (protestant) cemetery of missionaries who were from the London based missionary organization, China Inland Mission. He also visited the site of a Catholic cemetery.  The tombstones and grave markers had been removed in an attempt to wipe out evidence of Christianity.  His information about Christians of bygone days came from an interview with a hundred year old nun.  She told of the abuse of the Mao regime enforcing the Cultural Revolution. 

In another interview, this time with a Tibetan priest, he learned that in his village half the people were Christians.  Christianity was embraced by these people over 150 years ago as a result of missionaries.  Liao found evidence of vibrant Christians in Dali City.

Liao visited Yi and Miao villages in Yunnan province. His guide was Dr. Sun a very successful doctor who gave up his official position to practice his medicine among Christians in that province.  Dr. Sun’s story is very moving.  After a visit to the U.S. Dr. Sun was forbidden to return to China.

Above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey are ten statues recognizing Christian martyrs of the 20^th century.  Wang Zhiming’s statue of Yunnan province is one of them.  Liao was able to interview his son and got that significant story.

Reverend Yuan Xiangchen is a prominent pastor of the underground church in Bejing.  His story is amazing of how he survived very harsh treatment in prisons.  He took a very proactive stand against government organized ‘Christianity’.  “He didn’t want to attend religious activities organized by the government be it the U.S. or China.” (179)  (Clinton invited him to the annual White House Prayer Breakfast)

The communists established a state run Catholic Church that rejected the authority of the Vatican.  This created severe tension among Chinese Catholics. 

No Christians were exempt from ‘persecution’.  Even a blind Christian musician was harassed.  Christians who ran orphanages were maligned and accused of child abuse, etc.

henrydirksen.blogspot.com

 

 

Life's Healing Choices.

Book Review.

Baker, John.  Life’s Healing Choices.  Freedom from your hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  Howard Books. 2007.

J.B.- founder of Celebrate Recovery.  Associate pastor at Saddleback.

Comment.  Henry.

John has developed a program of ‘recovery’ at Saddleback that has benefitted many.  Over 400,000 have completed the program.  This book describes that program and is probably used as a guide for those who done the program.  It focuses on eight ‘choices’ that have their bases in the Sermon on the Mount. 

To refuse change is part of human nature.  The problem with that nature is that it is actually a “sin nature.” (14)  It continually attempts to be in control, playing God.  Failure to accomplish our self-determined goals results in “fear, fatigue, frustration and failure.” (18)

The first choice Jesus deals with in the Sermon on the Mount is the choice to admit our need, a reality choice.  “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.”  The second choice is the choice to get help.  There is hope.  God uses grief and pain to bring us to that choice.  The third choice has to do with “letting go and making a commitment.” (71)  Pride, guilt, fear, worry and doubt hold us back.  Coming clean and doing housecleaning is the fourth choice.

The fifth choice is the choice to commit and engage in transformation.  Such a choice deals with “character defects.” (112)  The sixth choice is about relationships and how they can be raised to the level they should be.  This requires forgiveness and making amends.  The seventh choice focuses on growth and the habit(s) of daily, continual self-examination through Bible reading and prayer.  The result will be momentum which will prevent the relapses of poor choices.  The final choice is the “Recycling Pain, the sharing choice.”  Our strength is in our weakness. 

henrydirksen.blogspot.com

Between a Church and a Hard Place.

Book Review.

Park, Andrew.  Between a Church and a Hard Place.  One faith-free dad’s struggle to understand what it means to be religious (or not).  Penguin Group, 2010.

Comment.  Henry

The author, a former correspondent for Business Week, shares his frustrating experience when confronted with giving answers to his young children about God.  In a response to any survey about church affiliation or religious status Andrew and his family would choose the ‘None’ category.  This would be a helpful read for anyone wanting to get a better understanding and/or appreciation for non-religious people in their life.

The author’s research into religion and more specifically church was motivated by a desire to be a responsible parent in matters of religion as they impacted his children.

Andrew takes a careful look at the process whereby a large part of the population (US) has rejected religion as an important part of life.  As stated earlier Andrew would consider himself a “None” (42).  There are two types of ‘Nones’- those who have never gone to church and those who have gone and no longer go.  Sometimes terms ‘unchurched’ and ‘dechurched’ are also used.

Belief (faith) is described as “this act of mind” (85) and is rejected because it is so hard to explain and addresses things that can “neither be seen or be proven.”  This seems to me to be central issue of this whole presentation.  

In his search for answers Andrew goes back to Falcon to explore his family roots which were very much the roots of the Holiness movement and all that was associated with that organization.  This heritage has been completely rejected by Andrew’s family and his parents.

His brother is a “Jesus- loving, Bible-believing, home-schooling, Evangelical Christian.” (131)

Churches are classic sources of social capital.” Harold Koenig.  There are researched “links between religion and physical health.” (161) 

It seems to me that although this book is focused on the search to understand religion it does not come to any conclusion how that search translated in a resolution about what to answer a young child about a question about God.  

henrydirksen.blogspot.com