Review: A Shot of Faith to the Head

In"A Shot of Faith to the Head," Mitch Stokes attempts to give Christians philosophical support for their faith. Do not expect evidence.

Many of Stokes' points deal with evidentialism, atheism, agnosticism, evolution and more. Most of his book is philosophical. Although Stokes pulls from many writers, scientists and philosophers of history, his book is mainly just ideas - philosophy - logic - reason.

It's enough to get the reader thinking, and it will help many feel stronger about their faith, but Stokes' points don't always line up, and they aren't always easy to follow. Overall, it's a good read, but the further you get into the book, the more you question Stokes' points.

I recommend the book for anyone looking to build their own faith, but don't expect to be able to easily use Stokes' points in conversation or debate. Although Stokes does provide helpful summary "For Your Arsenal" points at the end of each chapter.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Fantasy Fallacy - A Response to 50 Shades of Grey

I had the privilege of hearing Shannon Ethridge speak at Biola University before I graduated. The humble and loving woman poured out her heart to us college students, revealing much of her darkest moments and God's grace in pulling her out of a life stuck in the gutter. While Shannon's new book, "The Fantasy Fallacy," does not go into the same details (which I'm told are in her other books), it deals with the taboo topic of sex and fantasy - and, as a response the "50 Shades of Grey" phenomenon, it works very well.

But don't expect a rant against the immoral plot elements of the popular novel series. "Grey" only gets two or three mentions in "Fantasy Fallacy." Instead, Shannon explores the reasons why we as humans seem to enjoy reading books like these and why we indulge in our fantasies. Anyone who has read, is considering reading, or has friends who have read the "50 Shades" series will be able to have ideas for discussion after reading "Fantasy Fallacy." You don't have to have sexual struggles to get something out of the book. With plenty of examples and just enough Scripture in hand, Shannon pull the reader in and challenges you to look at why you are the way you are. Sure, there's plenty to explore here about society's reasons for sex and fantasy, but Shannon's talent is in giving us plenty to think about and giving us free space to discuss and learn about the taboo topics hardly ever discussed at church.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

*Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: You're Stronger Than You Think by Dr. Les Parrott

Dr. Les Parrott has some great material on moving forward in life. There's no question, "You're Stronger Than You Think You Are" is a motivational, inspirational book. But how strong the book, itself is, how lasting and effective its advice is, that's questionable. It's only practical if you're a hard worker willing to step outside your comfort zone. Parrott will make you think, but it's up to you to go beyond thinking and apply - and that's the hardest step of all, which, as Parrott writes, will take boldness and courage, not to mention faith and trust in God.

Parrott's book hinges on three premises: 1) "In our minds we find power when we clear our heads... and when we think expectantly." 2) "In our hearts we find power when we own our weakness ... and when we feel connected." And 3) "In our souls we find power when we surrender our egos ... and when we take bold risks."

Personally, I took a lot away from Parrott's book, especially the last third of it. I've written notes down in my journal along with personal applications, but there's no telling whether I'll have the strength, discipline, or memory to memorize and apply the lessons. A few things I did take away:

1) Stop worrying and be content. Over thinking doesn't always help.
2) Faith emboldens us with confidence.
3) God works with mud as a potter. That means he meets us in our weaknesses and mold us when we are willing to be malleable.
4) Inaction only breeds doubt and fear. Sometimes risk is needed for our dreams to come true.
5) We need to empty ourselves of the burden of needing to get our own way. That includes our dreams. There is freedom in looking at the big picture and trusting God's plan.
6) We have learned helplessness and need to relearn proactive learned optimism.

While Parrott makes a few points that don't gel well with me, the majority of his advice is solid and worth considering. I highly recommend this book.

**Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: SURFING FOR GOD

John Cusick's Surfing For God has two flaws: 1) It's written for men, and 2) Cusick's focus on examining the heart, while necessary and insightful, leaves out the intellectual means required to examine the heart and thus caters to more emotional Christians. That said, the more you read of Cusick's book, the more you'll learn and begin to think about your own identity and your reasons for your actions.

Cusick goes into clear and understandable detail about how the brain functions regarding addictions, encouraging readers to rewire their brains and deal with the issues and genuine desires behind addictions. When you do, Cusick writes, the Holy Spirit within you will begin to transform you.

Some of Cusick's most profound material reminds the reader that transformation is an ongoing process, that what we really want is not what our addictions make us think, and that God loves us no matter what. The book makes a wonderful read for anyone dealing with addiction, and, yes, even females will take a lot away from the book. It's an interesting ready that will encourage those struggling to find confidence and to trust in their salvation because of their sins.

**Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: Quit Going to Church by Bob Hostetler

Bob Hostetler's "Quit Going to Church" isn't so much about what's wrong with modern churches as it is about what's wrong with the way modern Christians live their lives. Hostetler starts by explaining that we need to stop attending church in a routine manner and start being the church in our actions and hearts. The rest of his book deals with how exactly we can do that.

Hostetler's chapters focus on:

• Quitting prayer and making a habit of keeping company with God
• Quitting reading the Bible and using the Bible to relate to God
• Ending the sharing of your faith and starting the sharing of your life
• Spending less time focusing on the ten percent tithe and more time realizing that everything you have belongs to God
• Discontinuing in heartless volunteer jobs and using your gifts for God's glory
• Putting a stop to judgment of the poor and instead spending time with the poor
• Stopping niceties and being real instead
• Quitting fellowship activities and starting parties
• Giving up on being good and instead dwelling in God's presence
• Denying enjoyment of worship and focusing your worship on God's happiness
• Quitting our worries about doing God's will and instead taking risks

Hostetler provides insights that aren't necessarily mind-blowing, but that are enough to inspire Christians to action. Although I had a few objections to some of his thoughts. Hostetler's comments on the need for worship to focus less on styling that pleases us and more on God are truthful, but his insistence that all worship should be joyful (implication - charismatic) ignores the fact that there are different times appropriate for different kinds of worship, and that some people are more reflective in their worship. And Just because someone does not display outer joy does not mean they do not have inner joy. 

As I read Hostetler's writing, I worried that the book would take on an "everyone needs to be a missionary" attitude. Hostetler makes it clear that we all have different gifts to be used for God's glory in different ways, but in certain chapters his suggestions seem to go against this by implying that every Christian should do dramatic things like spending more time with the homeless. I'm pretty sure that Hostetler did not mean to convey that extreme an idea, but there was enough to intimidate me, whose gifts seem to be more in words than in action. 

So, overall, I found this book surprising and inspiring, but it was not without its quirks.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Searchers by Joseph Laconte

Joseph Laconte's "The Searcher" is full of interesting information that would likely provide wonderful insights if only it had more room - perhaps if each chapter received its own book. Laconte's background and expertise as a history professor shows, as he includes numerous historical and cultural stories for context. Unfortunately, those stories and Laconte's explanations have little to do with the one story his book claims to be all about, that of the Road to Emmaus, which is found in Luke 24.

Laconte uses pieces of the Emmaus story to launch into specific topics that actually don't shed any light on the Luke 24 passage. For example, Laconte uses the travelers' mention of the Pharisees' actions to discuss the various evils that have been committed in Christ's name, such as the Spanish Inquisition. Another chapter uses the travelers' story (which tells of the women being greeted by angels at Jesus' grave) to discuss our modern perceptions of angels and what angels really are like. Laconte provides lots of interesting information, but only toward the end of his book does her really, finally spend a good amount of time talking about the actual Emmaus story and what readers can learn from it.

"The Searchers" contains plenty of interesting tidbits of information, but leaves readers "searching" for insights on the Luke 24 Road to Emmaus story - an element of Laconte's book that is surprisingly missing.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review of it.

Review: The Devil is in the Details by Tony Kessinger

Confession time. I received Tony Kessinger's "The Devil is in the Details" for review about two years ago. I never reviewed it. Having now read it - devour might be a better term - I wish I had read it sooner. Despite a few, very small flaws and lack of clarity in certain parts (which are naturally complicated), Kessinger provides a surprising, informative book that is about more than just evil and sin.

Kessinger starts with describing the basic history of evil presented in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament and passages regarding Satan's fall. Here, he presents interesting facts that add to the Biblical account and retells the Biblical story without becoming boring. Kessinger then moves on to discussing Satan and his demons with more specific regard to what they are capable of, as well as how that works with God's omnipotence, leadership and position (the highest possible) - using Job's predicament as an example. This discussion of Satan naturally leads to explanation of the end times, which is where Kessinger sometimes confuses. 

Toward the end of his book, Kessinger spends a good amount of space discussing some of the false and confusing teachings out there. This is perhaps the most interesting part of the book, but also the most controversial part of the book - especially when he brings up Arminian beliefs versus Calvinism. Overall, this section of the book stands firm, offering thought-provoking and challenging arguments. But this is also the section where Kessinger names Joyce Meyers and Joel Osteen as preachers of the prosperity gospel, and I can see where he gets that from, but I do not think Meyers and Osteen are as extreme as the clearly false prosperity gospel Kessinger presents. 

Kessinger also names Peter Kreeft as a believer of religious pluralsim, referring to one particular chapter in a book of Kreeft's that talks about an out of body experience Kreeft claims to have had. I don't know about the out of body experience, but I do know that Kessinger gives no context to his quick accusation - no context of the book the chapter he refers to is from and no context of Kreeft's other works. And Kessinger's description of religious pluralism is one similar enough to his description of universalism to confuse and cause the reader to draw the wrong conclusions about Kreeft. I actually had Kreeft as a professor my freshman year at The King's College, and I never got the impression that he believed in universalism or any kind of religious pluralism that lead to universalism, nor do I believe TKC would hire a professor who believed such things. I did email TKC about it, and this was their response:

Thanks for taking the time to write us and share your concern. Before taking Kessinger at his word, you might consider listening to this short talk given by Peter Kreeft called "Ecumenicism Without Compromise." In it, Kreeft states that ecumenicism cannot include compromise on beliefs.

Therefore, I am not convinced of Kessinger's statements on Kreeft. Those statements are very short, however, and the general principle behind them - that universalism is wrong and does not agree with Jesus or the Bible - still stands.

"The Devil is in the Details" seems in part like a mini "Systematic Theology" (anyone who attends a Christian college will know what I'm talking about here), give or take a few items. The book does not seem cohesive overall, but it makes a great textbook, and I would love to see Kessinger expand it into something as extensive as "Systematic Theology." Meanwhile, this book will go on my bookshelf as a book to be reread in the future in order to commit more of it to memory.