It’s a purposeful play on words. We already possess an ego, and most of us in Jekyll-and-Hyde fashion have something of an alter ego. Mr. Groeschel proclaims that we Christians need an altar ego transformed by Christ.

He begins by discussing how we focus on our reputation. In most cases, that is not who we really are, nor who the Lord wants us to be. We have worked so hard at maintaining what he calls our “false self.” This, he says, must be sacrificed to our new identity in Christ. He explains this in 4 chapters.

This is helpful in that the Lord knows we aren’t what we project, and deep down, we know it too. It makes for a public and a private life. This is not what we were made for. As he says repeatedly, “You are not yet who you are supposed to be.” Galatians 2:20 backs up his premise that Christ lives in me and that is the real me now. Let’s live in that light!

He explains that we we may have to shed labels that have attached themselves to us in the life we have lived. He speaks of being labeled “tightwad” and easy it is to fall back into old ways with the excuse “that is just who I am.” I suppose the labels we put on ourselves are the most damaging. Christ, we must always remember, changes everything.

At times I thought he was going to run to the power-of-positive-thinking mantra, but he pulled it back to our being overcomers in Christ. His discussion of how we are God’s ambassadors was a challenging perspective.

Part 2 on “Sacrificing Cultural Relativity for Eternal Values”, also done in 4 chapters, really calls for us to have more character in terms of patience, integrity, honor, and gratitude. This section doesn’t really deal with Christ transforming us as much as moral teaching and enticements to be more of the person we should be.

Part 3 encourages us to be bold in behavior, prayers, words (really good), and obedience. This succeeds in some measure in tying together the other 2 parts.

The book is an easy read that you can digest quickly. Some might think he tells too many stories that make him look like a really great Christian, but that would be a matter of taste. Still, this book could be a help to people.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Are people really connecting at our churches? Or are they lonely and unfulfilled? Nationwide attendance numbers tell us something is wrong. Here’s a book that makes sense of what is really going on in our society today. There’s real help here too to go with his persuasive analysis in terms of what needs to happen in our churches to stem the raging tide.

Mr. Frazee has had over 10 years to work out his ideas since the first edition of this  book was released (hence the 2.0). He is only more convinced. We are missing the unity of the early church. Who could disagree with that statement? We lack the community that characterized them. He is also particularly candid in the methods of modern churches, even what I would find fault with–I didn’t expect that!

American culture has been high-jacked by individualism. In other words, individual rights trump community, even the Christian community called the local church. Small groups became the rage a few years ago because someone figured this fact out. Individualism has even, says Mr. Frazee, robbed small groups of their real value because we are groups of individuals. The group knows we will hit the road if anything is said, so they say little. Community, then, fails at what it was designed to do.

What’s the answer? He says we must shift thinking back to a real understanding of community. There’s a common purpose there that we can all rally around and serve the Lord. After he explains just how lonely and isolated we really are. the balance of the book tells us how to implement in our churches.

He speaks so much of a neighborhood approach, called a starfish model, that quite frankly is far beyond our comfort zone. Can it work? Read and decide for yourself. My thoughts–we can glean some real ideas from him without becoming a congregation of multiple house churches. I could never follow him fully, but did he ever give me much to think about. For that, I thank you Mr. Frazee. As a pastor, after reading your book, I feel obligated for Christ’s sake and the multitudes of the unconnected to work at community again.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Finally a book that settles the matter of what a Christian should think about depression. I’ve always had trouble arriving at a firm conviction as there is so much conflicting information making the rounds. Charles Hodges is both a doctor and a Christian and has carefully researched the subject in this volume published by Shepherd Press.

Don’t panic. Whatever he has to say, he says compassionately. He never has a “just-get-right-with-God” attitude! Still, he demands that the subject be looked at both from the point of verifiable medical fact and the Bible. What could be more fair?

He discusses what we have probably all noticed–an amazing number of people now have a diagnosis of having depression. He explains how a so-called “chemical imbalance” in the brain is a theory that has never been proven at any level. He further explains that diseases that have legitimate diagnosis capabilities have a clear pathology (structural and functional cellular changes) that you can see. In depression, or a chemical imbalance, there is no such pathology.

There are, however, several ailments that have mood changes as a symptom and he suggests you check these out if you think you are depressed. (He lists them in an appendix). If this is not the case, then likely you are sad. He beautifully shows how our Creator made sadness as an emotion in us to deal with life and drive us to God. Though we may not respond properly, it can help us. Unfortunately, “depression” as a medical diagnosis can be a label that short circuits the process our Creator designed. We quit seeking–we stop at our label instead of the arms of our God.

He tackles the issue of so many not only having this diagnosis, but being prescribed anti-depressants as well. Beyond having their own side effects and dangers, these medicines have little success according to studies. Placebos (sugar pills) and no medicine at all have better results in patients!

He takes Bible characters like Hannah and shows how they would have gotten a “depression” diagnosis. Their real problem was normal sadness and in being driven to God they got real relief. He really puts the Bible to good uses in later chapters!

The last few chapters tackle Bipolar Disorder. It used to be called Manic Depression. He proves it is a rare but real disorder. There are now a wave of people getting a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. This is because they came up with Bipolar Disorder II that has a weak criteria that really can’t be verified and now we are giving away a false label and hurting people in the process.

He writes in a way that we can all understand. If you want to know what I think on the subject of depression now, just read this book. As individuals who will have sadness, worse moods and feel depressed, this book is a real help. Were it fall to us to help someone we think acts depressed this book is an indispensable guide. I give it the highest recommendation.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Addendum

I had a fine Christian lady write me and pointed out a few things to me so I want to clarify and share what I told her.

  The title seems almost an oxymoron as suffering “well” strikes most of us as an unreal concept. On the other hand, if our Lord made it such a key component of our lives, it simply must be a good thing. So to read something along the lines of this book by Mr. Grimmond and published by Matthias Media should be on our agenda on occasion. We simply must get some sort of handle on something that is going to define our lives on some level.  This volume sheds light, light we really need.

This book comes from a different angle than many I’ve seen. One clue is in the sub-title: “The predictable surprise of Christian suffering.” It is part of Christian experience. While he discusses personal or general suffering, the focus of the book is clearly on suffering as a Christian. There are many fine books on general suffering (for example, the writings of Joni Erickson Tada),but far fewer on suffering because you are a Christian.

Mr. Grimmond does well in tying suffering to the larger picture in the chapter on “But why?” I appreciated this comment on the Lord: “God is not an evil young boy pulling the wings off flies. He did not make the world so he could revel in sadistic pleasure. But in some profound way (and here there are many mysteries), suffering is at the very heart of God’s plan to create a perfect world and to glorify himself through his Son.”  Well said, don’t you think?

As the book proceeds he draws out clearly from Scripture that “all Christians, without exception, must suffer.” He explains how the New Testament so changes the emphasis and that we should note it. Job and others discuss the suffering in life while Jesus and Paul focused on suffering as a Christian. I believe that both are needed for a balanced Christian perspective.

He explains that persecution is more than dying at the stake. In our culture it’s the many compromises that come in family or work that risk real persecution. An awareness is key here that this too is what the Bible is talking about. Take note of his explaining the value of Hebrews 12 on this subject.

He further explains that our goal is to be godly in the suffering the Lord allows into out lives. Then there is the value of God being so real at these times. Yes, these book has real value.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

How’s this for a timely subject? Not only is the world writing off church, but more and more professing Christians are. This book by Mr. Crotts and published by Shepherd Press enters the fray to stop the bleeding. Christians ought to face his arguments head on. There is simply no doubt that the Lord meant for the local church to be part of every Christian’s life.

Mr. Crotts writes with a pastor’s sensitivity and persuasion. Having pastored since 1995, he likely has had plenty of time to consider these things. He wisely divides his manuscript into two halves: 1) What is God’s family?, and 2) How you fit into God’s family.

He uses a story of a group of people with varying attitudes about the church gathering at a coffee shop to discuss the topic. That’s a somewhat novel approach that some will like and some will not. Even if you don’t like it, it really doesn’t distract from the more theological discussion.

He hits upon the idea that deep down we all know we should go to church. I couldn’t agree more! He admits that many churches have given people a “bad church” experience and churches have such a variety of ways to fail. Whether it be theologically or either extreme of entertainment centered to reach people or extremely harsh on the other hand, there are many options. In some churches the people are off while in others the pastor might be. In a few, they might both be. In other words, church bashing is an easy sport to play.

From there Mr. Crotts lays out the Scriptural case for church. I agreed with his analysis on most every point. He even touches hot-button issues like church discipline, but writes with restraint and care.

He concludes with a plea for us to make church a priority in our lives and families. All in all, a worthy contribution.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.