Stop Dating the Church:  Fall in Love with the Family of God

by Joshua Harris

 Josh Harris who has written two other books on relationships,   The first I Kissed Dating Goodbye and the sequel Boy Meets Girl.  In this new book Josh now gives us a short little book that many can read in less than two hours that highlights the relationship we are called to have with the local church.

 He gives short reviews of Scriptures word pictures for the Church.  He challenges with having a passion for our local church.

 In the chapter entitled “We Really Need the Church” he explains why Mark Dever when speaking to college students would say, “If you are not a member of a church that you regularly attend you may well be going to hell”.  No, church membership does not save us but our relationship with God’s family reveals our relationship to Jesus Christ.

 One chapter gives us ten important questions to ask as we seek for a church to “stop dating”.  This church needs to be a Biblical and Godly church that we can have a committed lifelong relationship with.

 Another chapter is given to “rescuing Sunday”.  How much of our Sunday is focused on meeting our needs making us a “consumer” rather than a “communer” with God!

 Those who are already committed to the church will be encouraged and challenged in new areas as they read this.  Others who have not yet made a commitment to their church should be challenged with Biblical truth that will reveal their need to be committed.

Blame It On The Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience

by Edward T. Welch

This book is part of the “Resources for changes lives” series published by The Christian Counseling and Education Foundation in Glennside, PA.

Welch discusses his view of what the brain is in relation to man’s soul.  He then challenges us by asking questions as to what should have more authority the Scriptures or brain science.  He challenges us to think through  this issues biblically. 

We are reminded in the book that the brain cannot make us sin, but that the brain or body can reveal the sin that is in our hearts.

 In the section dealing with Brain dysfunction,  Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are given a chapter of discussion.  Then head injuries are looked into.   These injuries often reveal pre-existing spiritual problems.  To quote Welch, “Thus it is not surprising that one of the best predictors of post-injury problems is pre-injury character.”

 The central portion of the book is given to discussing psychiatric problems.  Depression, ADD, and ADHD treatment with medication is discussed along with the need to confront an individuals sin.

 The final section of the book is dedicated to a section entitled.  “The brain didn’t do it.”  Deals with homosexuality and alcoholism two conditions that our society chooses to call inherent or genetically induced, whereas Scripture calls both of them sin.

 I would encourage believers to take the time to read this book.  I believe we can all be challenged in that too often we want to blame our sin on others when in reality it comes from our inner sinful desires.  These we must confess, repent of and resist so that God may get the glory for the change that He brings in our lives.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala

This book was an exciting account of Jim’s experience trusting God and being used of God to build the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York.  This growth went from about 13 to a multiple campus church.  

The second part of the book is a challenge to be completely relying on God through committed times of prayer.

Everyone who reads this can be encouraged to pray more and trust God more in their daily life.  As well as being willing to share our faith.

An autobiography you will not want to put down.  The writer tells the story of his life and how God saved him, called him to preach, and used him to begin and lead a great Chinese House Church Movement throughout much of China.

He was saved in the late 1970’s and began to preach at age 16.  He fasted and prayed for three weeks before God provided him with his own Bible.  At this time Bibles in China were extremely scarce because of the persecution of the government.  Those who had them kept them hidden for fear of more persecution.  

Upon receiving his Bible he had to learn to read looking up the symbols in a dictionary.  He had only had three years of schooling.   Once he could read he memorized the book of Matthew.   At age 16 when he was first asked to preach he knew nothing about preaching so he stood and quoted the book of Matthew to the people.

His utter dependence on the Holy Spirit and his willingness to stand up for the true gospel of Jesus Christ no matter the cost is amazing.

God helped him miraculously escape from jail or prison on many occasions.  On others he helped him miraculously endure unbelievable torture for the name of Christ.

One of the things he stated was that we should not pray that their persecutions will stop.  Rather his desire is that we will pray for them to be faithful to Christ whatever the situation.

            I found this book a challenge for my own prayer life as well as recognizing how much we in American Christianity have taken for granted the freedoms that we have.  How many Bibles and Christian literature we have and how little they are studied or read?

            It is also great to hear his wife’s side of the story as she adds sections to share what was going on in her life especially as he was being persecuted or imprisoned.

347 pages, Monarch Books

Brother Yun’s website is www. asiaharvest.org

This book was a great encouragement to stand for what is right whatever the cost.

It is the biography of pastor Hsi who was saved from Confuciusism and became a great pastor.  

 During his life the Chinese could legally use opium.  The use of Opium was so great that farmers started to produce it rather than food.  It was a good money maker, but it destroyed the culture.  Hsi was pulled into this as well.  He ruined his life as a lawyer with opium. 

 He was hired because of his education to help a missionary translate and do other writing in his native tongue. In time he came to Christ.

 God used this man mightily to reach many who were entrapped in opium as he had been.  Many of these individuals also came to Christ.  He helped to start many refuges where individuals would come to get off of opium.  He made the medication that was used along with the gospel to help give them victory.

 He was a contemporary of Hudson Taylor.  It is interesting to read of their excitedly awaiting the arrival of this missionary to their home and refuge.

 If you read this book you will be challenged in how strong your faith and prayer life are.  You will also be challenged to consider how much you care for those living in bondage to sin that need to be freed through Jesus Christ.

 366 pages ,  Printed by Christian Focus Publications